Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo has cautioned inmates against pleading guilty to offences they did not commit simply because they are tired of being in prison, emphasising that plea bargaining must remain voluntary and guided by the pursuit of justice.
Lady Justice Abodo was speaking on the second and final day of a two-day plea bargaining camp at Nakasongola Main Prison, aimed at expediting the disposal of criminal cases, reducing case backlogs and addressing prolonged detention on remand.
Abodo applauded prison authorities for opening their doors to the Judiciary, noting that conducting plea bargaining camps in prisons brings justice services closer to inmates.
She also commended the Alternative Dispute Resolution Registry and the Judicial Training Institute for their preparatory work, as well as prosecutors, defence lawyers and court clerks for their participation.
“We are not only promoting plea bargaining. We have also introduced daily hearings and increased the frequency of criminal sessions. We are promoting mediation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,” Abodo said.
She emphasised that the Judiciary's priority was to ensure justice is served rather than encourage inmates to accept plea agreements out of desperation.
Abodo said a plea bargaining camp should not be considered unsuccessful simply because some cases are not resolved through the process, noting that such matters can be handled through other judicial procedures.
She encouraged inmates to explore appropriate alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation and reconciliation, where applicable.
On prison congestion, Abodo said a task force comprising the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Police, the Uganda Prisons Service, the Attorney General's Chambers and the Uganda Law Society was examining measures to improve case handling and ensure that people who should not remain in prison can access appropriate legal remedies.
She added that the Judiciary would follow up on pending appeals and engage judicial leadership on cases originating from Wakiso, Kiboga and Kampala that were not reached during previous sessions.
Meanwhile, the Focal Judge for Plea Bargaining, Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, also cautioned inmates against entering plea agreements for offences they had not committed.
Her remarks followed concerns raised in a recent social media post alleging that some inmates were being forced into plea bargaining.
Kajuga said such allegations deserved attention, stressing that the success of plea bargaining should be measured not only by the number of cases disposed of but also by the quality of justice delivered.
She said inmates had opportunities during the process to challenge the facts presented to them or withdraw from plea agreements where appropriate, and should not accept responsibility for offences they did not commit simply to secure release.
Kajuga added that the Judiciary would continue monitoring the impact of plea bargaining, including its contribution to reducing case backlogs, enabling accused persons to benefit from earlier case resolution, involving victims, tracking reoffending and assessing appeals arising from plea agreements.