A five-day Plea Bargaining Camp for capital offences is currently in progress at Malukhu Prison in Mbale. The camp was officially opened on Friday by Mbale Resident Judge, Justice Lubega Farouq.
During the opening, Justice Lubega sensitized the inmates about the Plea Bargaining process, emphasizing its importance for accused persons who acknowledge their guilt to consider enrolling. Plea Bargaining allows for a more expedited legal process, potentially reducing sentences in exchange for guilty pleas.
By the end of the day on Friday, at least 86 inmates had expressed their willingness to participate in the program. Justice Lubega handled 17 cases on the first day, with the remaining cases to be addressed throughout the week.
The camp saw the participation of key judicial and legal figures, including Assistant Registrar Mbale HW Nankya Nusulah, Mr. Aliwali Kizito, Chief State Attorney leading the team from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Defence Lawyers Ms. Cheptoek Nancy and Mr. Ntuyu Shafiq.
SSP Ninsima Maureen, the Officer in Charge of Mbale Main Prison, expressed gratitude to Justice Lubega for the timely implementation of the Plea Bargaining Camp, acknowledging its significance in improving the efficiency of the judicial process.
The Plea Bargaining Camp aims to expedite justice and reduce the backlog of cases, providing a pragmatic solution for inmates willing to admit their guilt and accept negotiated sentences.
Comments are closed.