Case backlog shame to Judiciary - judge

Kabarole- The growing case backlog in Ugandan courts is a shame to the Judiciary, Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine has said.

Speaking at the launch of the Audio Visual Link equipment at High Court in Fort Portal last week, Justice Bamwine challenged judicial officers to expedite hearing and conclusion of cases to enable the public get timely justice.

He asked investigating officers also to expedite inquiries.

Justice Bamwine explained that the video link will help children to testify in court without fear.

“Using this machine, a child will not talk directly to the judge but they will interact using a screen. Some children fear court and judges. This denies them a chance to speak their mind,” Justice Bamwine said.

He added that the use of the video link is an effort by the Judiciary to use ICT in carrying out judicial services.

While launching the Plea Bargain Programme at Mubuku prison, The Principal Judge asked inmates at to confess their crimes before court in order to get less or lighter sentences.

“We are all sinners before God but as Christians we say speak the truth it will set you free. Being in prison does not mean it is the end of life,” he said.

Justice Bamwiine told the more than 400 inmates that plea bargain is meant to decongest prisons in such a way that the accused persons are given chance to bargain for their sentences once they plead guilty.

“I am here to market the programme in order for you [prisoners ] to appreciate and embrace but it doesn’t mean that government has no money to take care of you. We feel for you, especially those who have been on remand for more than five years without trial,” Justice Bamwine said, cautioning that plea bargain does not mean that those accused of murder, rape, defilement and robbery will walk out scot free.

He said they will get sentences equivalent to offences committed.

“It does not mean that the judge will sentence you to five years if you are on murder or defilement charges. You must also pay for your actions but we need to shorten the process of justice acquisition,” Bamwiine said.

He asked judicial officers not to abuse the programme and asked them to give sentences that will deter convicts from committing more crimes.

Mr Charles Elem, who represented the Director of Public Prosecutions told the inmates that more than 40 prisoners from Kasese District had already benefited from the plea bargain programme.

Plea bargain

About 3,000 inmates countrywide have benefited from the plea bargaining programme since it was started in 2014. The plea bargain is any agreement in a criminal case between the prosecutor and defendant whereby the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a particular charge in return for some concession from the prosecutor.
A plea bargain allows both parties to avoid a lengthy criminal trial and may allow criminal defendants to avoid the risk of conviction at trial on a more serious charge.

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