By Innocent Atuganyira
MASINDI: A total of 59 inmates at Masindi Main Prison in Masindi District have applied for a plea bargain.
Speaking during the launch of plea bargain sessions at Masindi Main Prison on Monday, the Masindi High Court Resident Judge Isah Serunkuma confirmed that 59 inmates have applied for a plea bargain.
‘’37 cases are from the high court, while 22 from the magistrate court have applied for a plea bargain. The two-day activity that has commenced today will end tomorrow,’’ he said.
Judge Serunkuma implored the inmates to utilize the opportunity instead of staying on remand without knowing their fate. ‘’You are grateful for the plea bargain; kindly implore it rather than staying on remand without knowing your fate,’’ he implored them.
He however asked for enough funding for the program to be carried out in a quarterly manner to speed up justice.
According to Mr. Asinjah Baker, Commissioner of Prisons {Custodial Services}, the number of remands has gone higher than the number of convicts, and this is the result of plea bargains.
‘’The number of remands has gone higher than the number of convicts, and this is as a result of plea bargains. Most inmates know how the judiciary works,’’ he said.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP Jane Frances Abodo, called for fairness from the judiciary, prosecutors, and officers during the plea bargain session, which will be carried throughout the country.
She stated that the plea bargain is open to all inmates, including juveniles, but that juveniles are required to have their parents and police files.
‘’The names are submitted to the prosecution and court; sometimes files are in Hoima or Kiryandongo; we need some time to get them and negotiate. They are taken to the magistrate or judge for negotiation,’’ Abodo said.
The Director of Public Prosecutions assured the inmates that they are committed to supporting the judiciary and prisons, and they will do their best to ensure that those who have applied for a plea bargain are forgiven.
Masindi Prison currently has a total of 1,383 inmates.
Last year, 518 inmates, including 424 capital offenders, and 94 who committed petty offenses, applied for the plea bargain at Masindi Main Prison.
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