Judiciary Takes Special Juvenile and Plea Bargain Hearings to Mbale Facilities

The Ugandan Judiciary has initiated a targeted two-day special exercise in Mbale to fast-track pending cases and ease the burden of case backlogs. The initiative combines specialized court hearings for young people at the Namakwekwe Remand Home with plea bargaining sessions for adult inmates facing capital offences at Maluku Prison.

Running from October 26 to 27, 2026, the outreach follows a directive from Chief Justice Flavian Zeija. The instructions, relayed through a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, place special emphasis on prioritizing juvenile cases throughout eastern Uganda.

Justice Professor Andrew Khaukha, the Judiciary’s focal judge for Alternative Dispute Resolution and executive director of the Judicial Training Institute, addressed a press briefing in Mbale. He explained that bringing court proceedings directly to correctional facilities forms part of a broader strategy to improve access to justice.

The Mbale sessions are being led by Justice Dr Farooq Lubega, head of the Mbale High Court Circuit, alongside Justice Khaukha. The judicial team is specifically targeting nine juvenile matters at the remand home and 37 adult plea-bargaining files at Maluku Prison.

Justice Khaukha noted that plea bargaining has served as a vital alternative dispute resolution tool over the past 11 years. Nationally, the Judiciary has handled slightly over 1,000 plea-bargain cases involving capital offences since January alone, following similar recent interventions in Arua, Nakasongola, and Kitalya.

Beyond merely clearing court dockets, the plea-bargaining framework actively involves victims in consultations with prosecutors. This restorative approach gives victims a platform to voice their concerns and helps mend relationships strained by criminal activity.

Read the original story on Nile Post.