The Entebbe Chief Magistrate, Stella Maris Amabilis, has led a plea bargaining sensitisation exercise at Kitala Prison as part of the Judiciary's ongoing efforts to reduce case backlog and promote access to justice.
The outreach was conducted alongside a team of justice actors including Magistrates Edgar Tibayeita, Otim Moses, and Lilian Mazimwe, as well as State Brief Advocates Edward Ndahura and Collins Talemwa, together with State Attorney Paul Aheebwa.
The delegation was received at the facility by the Officer in Charge, ASP Juliet Namulindwa.
According to the Officer in Charge, Kitala Prison currently hosts 113 inmates, including 62 convicts and 51 petty offenders, supported by 34 staff members.
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She noted that inmates are engaged in rehabilitation programmes such as functional adult literacy, spiritual guidance, agriculture, and vocational skills including liquid soap making and book binding, aimed at preparing them for reintegration into society.
Addressing the inmates, Magistrate Amabilis reaffirmed the Judiciary's commitment to addressing case backlog and enhancing timely justice delivery.
She explained that plea bargaining is a voluntary legal process that allows accused persons to negotiate a resolution to their cases without undergoing a full trial, often resulting in an agreed sentence.
She urged inmates considering the option to make informed decisions and approach the process with seriousness, noting that plea bargaining agreements are binding and involve multiple justice actors.
She further emphasized that careful consideration of the offence and proposed sentence is essential to ensure fairness, accountability, and justice for all parties involved.
The Chief Magistrate highlighted plea bargaining as a key strategy in reducing congestion in prisons and accelerating case disposal, while also empowering inmates to take an active role in resolving their legal matters.
Following the sensitisation exercise, 31 of the 51 inmates with petty offences expressed interest in entering plea bargain arrangements.
Hearings are expected to commence within the week, with the same judicial team scheduled to conduct a similar session at Kigo Prison on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
In her closing remarks, Magistrate Amabilis commended the Uganda Prisons Service for facilitating the engagement and praised inmates for embracing plea bargaining as a constructive pathway to justice and rehabilitation.
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