US judge tips Ugandans on plea bargaining

Jul 30, 2017

Many cases are put on halt because the magistrate and judges can’t afford the locus to reach sites where complaints originate

New York state judge, Frank J. LaBuda, has asked the government of Uganda to set a timeframe for judges and magistrates to dispose of matters before them for justice to prevail.

He said this during a visit in Kabale district where he was leading a fundraising drive for Gracevilla Girls' Orphanage located in Kabale Municipality.

LaBuda also held a public lecture on the principle of plea bargaining, investigation and prosecution of child sex offences at Cephas Inn in Kabale.

He said that it is not good for judges to delay justice when they are mandated to deliver it as soon as possible.

LaBuda also asked Ugandan lawyers to encourage plea-bargaining among members of the public so as to promote sanity.

"It is bad for people to keep running to courts of law when they are aware that they are guilty. If they accept and beg for lighter punishments it would be better," said LaBuda.

Kabale High Court judge, Moses Kawumi Kazibwe appealed to government to increase funding for the court to be in position to reduce case backlog.

He said that many cases are put on halt because the magistrate and judges can't afford the locus to reach sites where complaints originate. 

"Some of our areas are hard to reach and they demand a more improved budget to enable us deliver as expected," said Kazibwe.

Ntungamo Municipality MP, Gerald Karuhanga, admitted that Parliament has not done enough to increase the budget which has led to case backlog and poor service delivery.

He however pledged to follow up the matter to have Judiciary's budget increased.

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