At least 132 cases have been resolved within a week through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as the Judiciary moves to reduce case backlog and decongest Uganda’s prisons.At Kigo Main Prison, a three-day mini plea bargain camp that commenced on September 28 and concluded on October 1 resulted in 26 accused persons being convicted and sentenced.At Butuntumula Prison, a plea bargain session concluded 40 cases in a single day, bringing the total number of cases disposed of through the two recent interventions to 66.At Kigo Main Prison, 26 accused persons entered into plea agreements and were convicted and sentenced during the three-day exercise. At Butuntumula Prison, more than 100 inmates participated in the plea bargain session, with 40 cases concluded by the end of the day.The Chief Magistrate of Luweero, Esther Adikini, said the exercise was consistent with the objectives of the Judicature (Plea Bargain) Rules, 2016, which seek to promote an efficient, orderly, predictable and timely criminal justice system.Plea bargaining provides an avenue through which an accused person and the prosecution, in consultation with the victim, may agree on an appropriate sentence, subject to the supervision and approval of the court.The officer in charge of Butuntumula Prison commended the initiative and called for similar sessions to be conducted regularly, preferably at least once every quarter, saying this would help address prolonged remand and ease pressure on the prison population.At Nakasongola Prison, more than 80 inmates have been registered following sensitisation by the ADR Registry. The plea bargain camp is scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026.At Arua Main Prison, 243 inmates have been registered for a joint High Court and Chief Magistrate’s Court plea bargain camp scheduled for October 13 and 14, 2026.The registered inmates comprise 126 whose matters are listed before the High Court and 117 before the Chief Magistrate’s Court.At Jinja Prison Complex, sensitisation has been conducted ahead of a plea bargain camp scheduled for October 15 and 16, 2026.In the Eastern Region, a joint plea bargain camp for Soroti and Kumi is scheduled for October 18 and 19, extending the Registry’s efforts to bring expedited case disposal closer to inmates in the region.The Mbale High Court is also scheduled to conduct a plea bargain camp on October 21 and 22, 2026.The post Backlog: 132 cases resolved in one week under plea bargain appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.