Mbarara High Court Conducts Plea Bargaining Sensitization as Over 130 Inmates Seek Faster Case Resolution
Mbarara High Court yesterday conducted a plea bargaining sensitisation session at Mbarara Main Prison in preparation for an upcoming Plea-Bargaining Camp aimed at reducing case backlog and facilitating expeditious disposal of criminal matters.
The session attracted inmates from Mbarara Main Prison, Mbarara Women Prison, and Kakiika Prison, with more than 130 inmates so far enrolling to participate in plea bargaining.
Addressing the inmates, the Head of the Mbarara High Court Circuit, Justice Allan Nshimye, emphasized the Judiciary's commitment to enhancing access to justice and reducing case backlog through targeted criminal sessions and Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, including plea bargaining.
He stated the importance of plea bargaining in promoting timely resolution of criminal cases, reducing remand overstay, and contributing to the decongestion of prisons.
Justice Nshimye also responded to concerns raised by inmates, explaining the legal rights and safeguards available under the plea-bargaining process. He encouraged inmates who admit responsibility for the offences charged against them to embrace plea bargaining as an opportunity to negotiate their sentences and have their cases resolved more quickly.
The Deputy Registrar of Mbarara High Court, HW Grace Atwongyeire, reiterated the Judiciary's commitment to reducing case backlog through various interventions, among them plea bargaining. She highlighted the benefits of the process and commended the Uganda Prisons Service, the Office of the Director of PublicProsecutions in Mbarara, and Advocates on State Brief for their continued cooperation.
She noted that the previous plea-bargaining camp held in December 2025 registered significant success, with 169 plea bargaining agreements confirmed, and expressed optimism that the forthcoming camp would build on that achievement.
The Officer in Charge of Mbarara Main Prison expressed appreciation to the Judiciary for the initiative, noting that it would go a long way in addressing prison congestion and remand overstays. He revealed that Mbarara Main Prison currently holds 2,193 inmates against an official capacity of 336, highlighting the urgent need for interventions such as plea bargaining. He pledged full support towards the success of the upcoming camp.
He, however, appealed to the Judiciary to also consider petty offenders who may wish to benefit from plea bargaining.
The sensitisation session was moderated by the Deputy Registrar, HW Atwongyeire.
Posted 21st, April 2026
