Members of the team during the opening of the plea bargaining camp in Gulu
GULU: At least 300 capital cases were concluded in Gulu, thanks to Plea Bargaining Prison Camp,which was opened by the Chief Justice at Gulu Main Prison on Wednesday June 19,2019.
Hon.Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo handled more than 100 of the cases and the while rest are expected to be finalized by close of the week.
The Officer in Charge of Gulu Main Prison, Mr Emmanuel Mucunguzi, explained that last year alone, five Plea Bargaining sessions were held and about 600 matters were concluded, which eased congestion at the facility.
He asked for continuous Plea Bargaining sessions to enhance access to justice at the facility.
The Uganda Prison Services Director in charge of Correctional Services, Mr Samuel Akena, who said prisons would support the programme because it eases congestion in prisons, repeated this call.
At the occasion, Prof Danny DeWalt from Pepperdine University also christened the Principal Judge, Hon. Justice Dr Yorokamu Bamwine, and "Mr. Plea Bargaining" for championing the quick access to justice system.
Hon.Justice Dr Bamwine urged inmates not to make desperate uninformed decisions. He told inmates that the courts would not impose laughable sentences just for the sake of it.
"The Judiciary may be under-funded or lack adequate Judges, but you shouldn't expect a handshake of a sentence from the courts when you sign for Plea Bargain.Sentences should be in accordance with the law", Hon. Justice Dr Bamwine said.
The inmates in their memorandum presented by their leader, Mr Bagonza Daniel Genesis, applauded the Judiciary for the initiative which they said has enabled many convicts to be reunited with their families after serving their sentences.
The inmates appealed for an extra Judge at Gulu High Court and to enhance man-power at the Amuru and Nwoya Courts, which are currently manned by one magistrate.
They also wondered why time spent on remand is not taken into account during sentencing.The inmates also decried the long stay on remand especially for prisoners committed to the High Court.
They commended the Chief Justice for addressing some of the concerns they had raised during his last visit at the facility in 2017.
The Chief Justice said the Judiciary is committed to doing the best they can to administer justice for all.
He explained that the ultimate goal of the Camp is to train stakeholders such as state attorneys, defense counsel as well as law students on how to conduct plea bargains.
Here assured the inmates that their concerns on the management and operations of Nwoya and Amuru courts would be addressed.
Supreme Court Justice and Chairperson of the JTI Governing Council, Hon. Lady Justice Stella Arach Amoko and High Court Judge, Hon. Justice Gadenya Paul Wolimbwa accompanied the Chief Justice and Principal Judge.
The others on the team are Registrar High Court, Tom Chemutai, Inspector of Courts,HW Immaculate Busingye and Judiciary Technical Advisor, Mr Andrew Khaukha.
A team from Pepperdine University in the USA led by Prof Danny DeWalt were at hand to offer support to defense attorneys allocated to each accused person who enrolled on the programme.
Taking part in the Prison Camp are state attorneys from ODPP, lawyers from International Justice Mission, Uganda Law Society and law students from Uganda Christian University.
Posted 20th, June 2019
