By KT Reporter
The Principal Judge of Uganda, Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, has officially flagged off a three-day plea bargain session at the Lira High Court Circuit, with proceedings beginning on Wednesday morning at Lira Main Prison.
The session is expected to handle over 200 cases, with hundreds of inmates seeking to negotiate with the state in a bid to fast-track justice. Plea bargaining allows an accused person, represented by a lawyer, to plead guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence or other concessions, without undergoing a full trial.
The launch was attended by top legal and community leaders, including the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Justice Hellen Abodo, Lira Resident Judge Lady Justice Margaret Apiny, Bishop Prof. Alfred Olwa of Lango Diocese, and other local officials.
They all emphasized the importance of fair justice, prison decongestion, and the potential for rehabilitation. In her opening remarks, Justice Jane Okuo stressed that the plea bargain process is rooted in legality and aligned with African traditional justice systems, promoting reconciliation and community harmony.
She urged stakeholders reviewing case files to ensure that justice is not only done but also seen to be done. “So I urge our stakeholders who are going through the files and determining what to do with the inmates, do everything that you can on each file and ensure that the right justice is delivered in each file. So that when you go home, you can sleep and say I did a good job today.”
Justice Okuo further highlighted the cultural relevance of plea bargain in the region.
Meanwhile, Justice Hellen Abodo, the DPP, warned prosecutors against imposing unnecessarily harsh sentences, urging them to remain fair and humane.
She commended prison authorities for their role in rehabilitating inmates, noting that reintegration into society is a critical aspect of criminal justice. “We want that when you go to the community, you integrate easily. We don’t want you to come out and feel like you are so out of place, and some even want to come back to prison.”
Lady Justice Margaret Apiny, the Lira Resident Judge, said the increasing crime rate hampers justice delivery and national development. She expressed optimism that the session will help reduce the backlog of cases.
She also advised inmates to only opt into the plea bargain program if they are guilty, citing concerns over potential misuse of the process.
“And one advantage of plea bargaining is that the victims or the complainants are also involved. That is harmony. When you serve your sentence or go back to the community, then you are able to live with them because in this process, you have talked to each other, some of you have sought forgiveness, you know, you have apologized to the family.”
On his part, Sam Atul, Mayor of Lira City Council, appealed for a collective effort in reducing crime, stressing the need for community support.
The plea bargain process in Uganda is formally governed by the Judicature Plea Bargaining Rules, 2016, and has gained traction as a practical mechanism to reduce delays and humanize the justice system-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
