The Focal Judge for Plea Bargaining, Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, also warned inmates against entering into plea bargaining agreements for offences they had not committed.
The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, has warned inmates against pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit in a desperate bid to secure their release from prison, insisting that plea bargaining must never come at the expense of justice.
Abodo made the remarks on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, while presiding over the second and final day of a two-day plea bargaining camp at Nakasongola Main Prison, aimed at expediting the disposal of criminal cases, reducing case backlog and addressing prolonged detention on remand.
The camp brought together judicial officers, prosecutors, defence lawyers, prison authorities and other justice sector actors to facilitate the hearing and disposal of eligible criminal cases through plea bargaining.
“We are not only promoting plea bargaining. We have also introduced daily hearings and increased the frequency of criminal sessions. We are promoting mediation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,” Abodo said.
She emphasised that the Judiciary’s priority was to ensure that justice is served rather than encourage inmates to accept plea bargains out of desperation or frustration with prolonged detention.
Abodo noted that a plea bargaining camp should not be considered unsuccessful simply because some cases are not resolved through the process, explaining that such matters could be handled through other judicial mechanisms.
She encouraged inmates to explore appropriate alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation and reconciliation, where applicable. She added that sentences should be guided by the gravity of the offence and relevant aggravating factors.
The Principal Judge thanked prison authorities for allowing the Judiciary to conduct the camp within the prison, saying the initiative brought justice services closer to inmates.
She also commended the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Registry and the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) for their preparatory work, as well as prosecutors, defence lawyers and clerks for supporting the exercise.
On prison congestion, Abodo revealed that a task force comprising representatives from the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Police, Uganda Prisons Service, the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Uganda Law Society was examining measures to address the problem.
She said the task force was exploring ways of improving the efficiency of case handling and ensuring that people who should not remain in detention could access appropriate legal remedies.
Abodo also pledged to follow up on pending appeals before the different appellate courts.
She undertook to engage the relevant judicial leadership over cases originating from Wakiso, Kiboga and Kampala that were not reached during previous sessions, with a view to developing a plan for their timely disposal.
The Focal Judge for Plea Bargaining, Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, also warned inmates against entering into plea bargaining agreements for offences they had not committed.
Her remarks followed concerns raised in a recent social media post alleging that some inmates were being forced into plea bargaining, including in cases involving community disputes.
Kajuga said such allegations deserved attention, stressing that the success of plea bargaining should be assessed not only by the number of cases disposed of but also by the quality of justice delivered.
She explained that inmates have opportunities during the process to challenge the facts presented to them or withdraw from the process where appropriate.
“No inmate should accept responsibility for an offence they did not commit simply to secure their release from prison,” was the message underscored by the judicial officers during the camp.
Kajuga added that the Judiciary would continue monitoring the impact of plea bargaining, including its contribution to reducing case backlog, enabling accused persons to benefit from the process earlier, involving victims of crime, tracking reoffending and assessing appeals arising from plea agreements.
The judicial officers’ remarks highlight the importance of safeguarding the rights of accused persons as the Judiciary pursues faster case disposal and seeks to ease congestion in the country’s prisons.
