Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo has officially launched a three-day Plea-Bargaining Prison Camp at Gulu Main Government Prison, aimed at promoting timely access to justice.

The camp, which kicked off on June 23, 2025, saw over 200 inmates enroll on its opening day, with more expected to join throughout the program.

The initiative, themed, Promoting Timely Access to Justice, seeks to offer an opportunity for offenders to acknowledge their guilt while facilitating justice and supporting rehabilitation.

During the launch, Justice Owiny-Dollo explained that the plea-bargaining process allows for offenders to admit guilt, aligning with Uganda’s efforts to promote a fairer and more efficient judicial system.

He emphasized that local communities’ traditional dispute resolution practices mirrored the principles of plea bargaining, reinforcing the initiative’s cultural relevance.

“The process is not just about legal reforms; it’s about giving offenders a chance to take responsibility and begin the journey of reformation,” Owiny-Dollo said.

Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), reiterated that plea bargaining is meant for those who admit guilt and highlighted the importance of victims’ involvement in the process.

She explained that victim participation fosters healing and contributes to the rehabilitation of offenders back into their communities.

Abodo urged prosecutors to handle cases with fairness and transparency, especially in situations where evidence is lacking, and to forward such cases to her office for dismissal.

She confirmed that investigations into cases under the General Court Martial were currently ongoing.

The event began with a mass led by Archbishop Raphael Wokorach of the Gulu Archdiocese.

In his homily, Archbishop Wokorach encouraged inmates to take personal responsibility for their actions and embrace the plea-bargaining process as a path to redemption.

However, he cautioned that only those truly guilty should participate, emphasizing that plea bargaining is not intended for the innocent.

The launch of the Plea-Bargaining Prison Camp and the Public Defender Program marks a major step forward in Uganda’s efforts to enhance the fairness, efficiency, and accessibility of its justice system.

By integrating traditional practices with modern legal reforms, the initiative aims to ensure justice is not only done but seen to be done in a timely manner.