Inmates at Rukungiri Government Prisons have raised concerns over prolonged remand periods for petty offenders and urged the posting of a Chief Magistrate at Rukungiri Chief Magistrate’s Court to expedite such cases.
The concerns emerged during a sensitization session held on Tuesday at the prison, aimed at enhancing inmates’ understanding of the criminal justice system. The event, organized by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Mbarara Regional Office, brought together representatives from key justice sector institutions to engage inmates on their rights and legal processes.
Some inmates noted that long remand periods sometimes pressure suspects to plead guilty to offences they did not commit, just to secure quicker resolution of their cases.
They also called for criminal sessions to be conducted in Kanungu District, highlighting that some prisoners have been on remand for over three years without their cases being heard.
The inmates requested ongoing sensitization programs to better understand the criminal justice system, including their rights, plea bargaining, and bail refund procedures.
It was observed that a significant number of criminal cases in Rukungiri District arise from Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
During the session, the Assistant Registrar of Rukungiri High Court, Her Worship Hellen Atigo, guided inmates through the criminal justice process from arrest to sentencing, explaining the rights of accused persons, plea-bargaining procedures, and bail refund requirements.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Prisons, Christopher Okware, addressed human rights protections under Chapter Four of the Constitution, emphasizing the legal safeguards that remain in place even while in custody.
