The Fort Portal High court Resident judge, has appealed to the people of Tooro region to consider entering a plea bargain agreement while in court so as to reduce resources and time spent battling court cases.
During the open court circuit held at Fort Portal high court in central division Fort Portal, Justice Vincent Henry Mugabo stated that much as the number of judicial officers is limited compared to the audience they are mandated to serve, most people have continued to neglect the opportunity even when majority of the suspects are convinced, they perpetuated crimes in communities.
Why the plea bargain
Plea bargaining, in law, is the practice of negotiating an agreement between the prosecution and the defense whereby the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser offense or (in the case of multiple offenses) to one or more of the offenses charged in exchange for more lenient sentencing, recommendations, a specific sentence, or a dismissal of other charges.
Justice Mugabo, stated that as court they always advocated for plea bargain with the parties involved, to ensure that convicts get lesser punishments and also reduce conflicts in communities since the procedure involves a win, win situation between the parties seeking justice.
Notably the procedure also helps to save courts time and gives a chance to other Ugandans to attain justice amidst the shortage of limited court staff.
According to Mugabo, Katojo prison currently has 5689 in mantes,and only 3110 of these have since been convicted on criminal grounds, 899 capital offences while 1680 cases have never been heard. This has observably caused extreme congestion and pressure on the Facility.
Mugabo further states that in case inmates are allowed to enter a plea bargain agreement he is capable of handling at least 100 cases a week which could save resources and time between the conflicted parties and also pave the way for other Ugandans to receive justice.
Chief attorney unhappy with population abandoning court cases
The chief state attorney in the office of the director of public prosecutions Fort Portal, Ms.Ester Adubango, told the court clients that there is a growing tendency among the population of abandoning cases in court without following up to give evidence in order to have them successfully prosecuted.
Adubango, says the act is negative and may be a source of conflict in the community since the aggrieved parties have not attained justice in court as they may have wished.
Residents decry ‘bush lawyers’
Meanwhile residents decried the increasing masquerading of bush lawyers who have left may victims after falling prey in pursuit of justice at the Fort Portal high court.
Allan Mugara, one of the Victims narrated to the resident judge on how people masquerading to be attorneys acquired funds from him pretending to be officers of court in vain.
Richard Bwiruka of “Bwiruka and co-advocates” who spoke on behalf of the advocates during the session, appealed to the population to always seek legal services with licensed companies to avoid falling prey at the hands of Bush lawyers.
Justice Mugabo, said following the numerous complaints by court clients at Fort Portal and other courts the judiciary has issued identity cards to all their court officers to prevent the population from falling prey and in addition to instituting tough penalties for those who will be court in act.
The ministry of justice and constitutional affairs holds annual open day court sessions across the country to ascertain response from court clients, magistrates ,Advocates, NGOs and other partners that work with court on affairs hindering accessibility to justice in society and how to curb the challenges.
