Principal Judge cautioned judicial officers

By Patrick Okino

Principal judge Yorokamu Bwaine has cautioned judicial officers against participating in the bargaining process between the accused and the victim in the execution of administration of justice.

Yorokamu also warned against corruption and delay in handling cases which has resulted into case backlog despite scarcity of judicial officers.

“Don’t participate actively in the bargaining process,” Yorokamu said on Monday at Lira magistrate court while launching free bargaining.

RPC North Kioga, Richard Aruk contributing after Yorokamu launches free bargaining at Lira court on Monday. PHOTO/Bonney Odongo

“Embrace free bargaining and mediation because some people are not happy with our judgment,” he added. 

He urged the judges while sentencing an inmate who has stayed on remand for years to deduct a period spent in prison.

“The lawyers should not be given the impression the state is broke that is why we should embrace free bargaining. Be careful when bargaining for defilers because we can continue with the case,” he added. 

A report from Lira court indicates those 258 cases and those at remand in Lira prison are more than those serving prison sentence.

“People are so much in love with imprisonment, sometime they away with bail,” he said in the launch attended by top district security officers. 

He said about 8,000 committals across the county are waiting for high court but judges are only 50 which some handle civil cases.