By Tolit Ivan
A plea bargain court session is currently underway at Gulu High Court, aimed at expediting justice and reduce case backlogs within the court system.
The session was officially opened on Monday by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo at Gulu Central prisons starting Monday and running for three days.
Plea Bargaining is the negotiated agreement between the prosecution and accused person pleading guilty in exchange for a lenient sentence or lesser charge.
Prosecutors, not the victims, determine the recommended sentences in plea bargain agreements.
At least 280 inmates on remand, mainly capital offenders including rape, aggravated defilement and murder, are expected to benefit from the session.
While addressing stakeholders during the launch, Chief Justice said plea bargain is one of best ways of alternative case resolution mechanism that have been adopted to not only build a peaceful society but also to reduce on case backlogs.
Reports from Gulu central prisons authorities indicate that there are over 1,652 inmates, of which 1,049 are on remand while 712 have been convicted.
According to Owiny-Dollo, plea bargain is more efficient and cost-effective, reduces the burden on the court system, and provides a level of certainty for both the prosecution, the defendant and the victims, encouraging inmates to consider plea bargains if they have indeed committed the crimes they are accused of.
Since the start of the plea bargain by the judiciary in 2017, it has resulted in the resolution of over 6,000 cases, saving the Judiciary an estimated 1.7 billion UGX.
Chief Justice however advised inmates against enrolling for plea bargain in order to plead guilty to crimes they didn’t commit in a desperate attempt to escape prolonged judicial hurdles and detention in prison.
He explained that a plea bargain is a better form of alternative dispute resolution, which brings healing and closure between the victims and the perpetrators and encouraged only inmates who feel they have committed the crimes to enrol.
The plea bargain session which runs is being supported by legal experts from Pepperdine University in the United States of America and the Ugandan Judiciary.
A total of 280 inmates at Gulu Main Prisons had by Monday signed up for the plea bargain session and will receive free legal representatives from Pepperdine University and Ugandan lawyers.
