Mbarara High Court has held a plea bargaining sensitisation session at Mbarara Main Prison as part of preparations for an upcoming Plea Bargaining Camp aimed at reducing case backlog and speeding up the disposal of criminal cases.
The session on Tuesday brought together inmates from Mbarara Main Prison, Mbarara Women Prison, and Kakiika Prison, with more than 130 inmates already registering to participate in the programme.
Speaking to the inmates, the Head of the Mbarara High Court Circuit, Justice Allan Nshimye, reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to improving access to justice through Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, including plea bargaining. He said the initiative is key in reducing case backlog, shortening remand periods, and easing prison congestion.
Justice Nshimye encouraged inmates who accept responsibility for their offences to consider plea bargaining as an opportunity to resolve their cases faster and negotiate for fair sentencing, while assuring them that legal safeguards remain in place throughout the process.
The Deputy Registrar of Mbarara High Court, HW Grace Atwongyeire, also highlighted the Judiciary’s ongoing reforms to expedite justice delivery. She commended the cooperation of the Uganda Prisons Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Mbarara, and Advocates on State Brief, noting that such partnerships have strengthened the programme’s success.
She revealed that the last plea bargaining camp held in December 2025 was highly successful, with 169 agreements concluded, expressing optimism that the upcoming camp will achieve even greater results.
The Officer in Charge of Mbarara Main Prison ASP Serest Kamya welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely given the severe congestion at the facility, which currently holds 2,193 inmates against an official capacity of 336.
He said the programme would significantly ease pressure on the prison system and pledged full support for its success, while also urging the Judiciary to extend consideration to petty offenders seeking to benefit from the process.
