Bamwine calls for plea bargain process adoption

Jun 06, 2016

He says adoption of the plea bargain process will significantly decongest Uganda's prisons.

KAMPALA - The Principal Judge Yorakamu Bamwine has called on the legal fraternity to adopt the plea bargain process as part of efforts to speed up the justice process in the country.

While officiating at a one-day training session of state attorneys at Kabira Country Club Monday morning, Bamwine said that over 10,000 criminal and civil cases are still awaiting trial in the courts across the country.

He said adoption of the plea bargain process will go a long way in decongesting the country's prisons,  as many suspects continue awaiting trial which sometimes can take up to five or six years.

From left, DPP Justice Mike Chibita, Rtd Head of the High Court Criminal Division, Justice Lameck N. Mukasa and Justice Bamwine share a moment after the workshop. (credit: Shamim Saad)


 

Pictured here is  LASPNET's Sylvia Namubiru (L) and Justice Bamwine. (Credit: Shamim Saad)


Plea bargain is an agreement between the accused person and the state whereby the accused voluntarily pleads guilty to the offense committed for a lesser sentence.

Sylvia Namubiru, the executive director of Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET), which has partnered with the judiciary to carry out the training, said the plea bargain process is also aimed at helping the public have an active participation in the legal process.

Justice Bamwine has previously said that one of the major aims of plea bargain directions is to enhance efficiency of the criminal justice system for the orderly, predictable, uniform, consistent and timely resolution of criminal matters.

Speaking at the launch of the programme around this time last year, Bamwine said the introduction of the system would fast-track the reconciliation and re-integration of both offenders and victims in northern Uganda.

 

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