The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo(R) at the Judicial Training Institute
The Judiciary has taken a major step in reshaping the criminal justice system with the launch of Daily Non-Capital Plea Bargain Hearings for the Kampala Metropolitan Area. This, was flagged off alongside the establishment of the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) Mediation Unit.
The twin-initiative, officially launched by the Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, is expected to accelerate case disposal, decongest prisons, and advance a more people-centred approach to justice.
Presenting statistics at the launch, the Officer in Charge of Kampala Remand Prison, SP Ernest Nabaasa, highlighted the growing impact of plea bargaining within the criminal justice system. Between 2022 and 2026, a total of 6,098 inmates registered for plea bargain sessions at Kampala Remand Prison. Of these, 1,979were convicted and sentenced to custodial terms, while 1,739 benefited from non-custodial sentences. Among those given non-custodial options, 1,272 were placed on community service, 298 were released on account of time already served on remand, and 169 were cautioned.
The introduction of daily plea bargain hearings is intended to address this gap by institutionalising plea bargaining as a routine court process, particularly for non-capital offences. The hearings commenced today and will run through Friday, creating an intensive window for disposing of cases across the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
In her remarks, Lady Justice Abodo applauded the swift coordination that made the launch possible, noting that the initiative had been conceptualised and implemented within a very short time. She commended the Judicial Training Institute and the ADR Registry for their efficiency, describing them as a winning team capable of delivering results even under tight timelines.
She also appreciated the Uganda Prisons Service for maintaining an open-door policy that has enabled continued access to inmates, both during and after theCOVID-19 period, thereby supporting the implementation of plea bargaining.
Emphasising the need for practical and results-oriented capacity building, the Principal Judge said training must translate into measurable outcomes. She observed that institutions must identify challenges, define the desired results, and ensure that training is directly applicable, warning that training without results defeats its purpose.
Lady Justice Abodo further stressed that the Judicial Training Institute must continue broadening its reach to train all justice actors, including prosecutors, police officers, defence counsel, and civil society actors, in order to fully realise its mandate.
She described plea bargaining in non-capital offences as a critical intervention with immediate impact on prison decongestion, noting that many accused persons would either be released on account of time served or be placed on community service. Drawing from her experience as both a prosecutor and a judge, she said plea bargaining also helps protect innocent individuals who might otherwise remain on remand for unnecessarily long periods.
The Principal Judge outlined the principles that must guide the process, stressing that plea bargaining must remain voluntary, fair, accountable, and grounded in integrity and professionalism. She cautioned against treating it as a shortcut to justice, saying it should instead be viewed as a more restorative and effective means of resolving criminal matters.
Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha, the Executive Director of JTI, hailed the Principal Judge for her decisive leadership, noting that the idea to formally launch the initiative had been conceived and implemented within days. He recalled that during a meeting the previous week, Lady Justice Abodo immediately recognised the potential of plea bargaining in non-capital cases and directed that the initiative be rolled out without delay.
Justice Khaukha also reflected on the historical growth of plea bargaining in Uganda, noting that its success has been built on strong institutional collaboration between the Judiciary and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. He credited earlier justice sector actors for laying the foundation that has enabled plea bargaining to develop into a practical and impactful case disposal mechanism.
He commended the performance of various Chief Magistrates' Courts that had registered significant numbers of plea bargain cases within a short period, saying these results demonstrated what is possible through commitment and coordination. In recent days alone, he noted, more than 1,200 cases had been handled through plea bargaining, underscoring the initiative’s scalability.
Justice Khaukha paid tribute to the collaborative efforts of the ADR and JTI teams, prosecutors, magistrates, and the Uganda Prisons Service, whose dedication andlong working hours have sustained the initiative. He particularly recognised prison authorities for facilitating inmate participation, describing their responsiveness as critical to the programme's effectiveness.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Lino Anguzu, described plea bargaining as a game changer in addressing case backlog. He noted that the sheer volume of criminal cases makes it impractical to rely solely on full trials and reaffirmed the commitment of the Office of the DPP to support daily plea bargain sessions, especially at the Magistrates’ Court level. He called on all stakeholders to uphold fairness and diligence in the process.
Representing the Acting Chief Registrar, HW Harriet Ssali, Registrar Special Duties, said Magistrates' Courts are the gateway to criminal justice, as they handle the majority of criminal cases. She noted that daily plea bargaining would significantly improve efficiency and expedite case disposal, but underscored the need to strengthen systems for tracking files from police and identifying cases suitable for plea bargaining at an early stage. She called for stronger coordination among justice actors to ensure that cases are fast-tracked whenever accused persons are ready to plead guilty.
The launch of daily plea bargain hearings, together with the establishment of the JTI Mediation Unit, marks a strategic shift towards greater efficiency, collaboration, and innovation within Uganda's justice system. With thousands of inmates already benefiting from plea bargaining and strong commitment from justice sector actors, the initiative is poised to reduce prison congestion, accelerate case disposal, and promote fairness and accountability in the administration of justice.
Posted 8th, April 2026
