Authorities at Masaka Main Prison have urged the Judiciary to introduce special court sessions for elderly inmates, citing difficulties in managing aged prisoners with health complications.

The appeal was made by Gerald Okabo, the prison’s Deputy Officer in Charge, during a visit by Acting Principal Judge Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, who was launching a plea-bargaining session, a Judiciary initiative to reduce case backlogs. (Under plea bargaining, an accused person pleads guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.)

Okabo said many elderly inmates suffer declining health during long remand periods and are often petty offenders who could be handled through alternative dispute resolution. He asked the Judiciary to prioritise their cases and drop those where witnesses repeatedly fail to appear, to ease prison congestion and improve efficiency.

Masaka Lawyers Guild Chairperson Alexander Lule supported the call, urging the recruitment of more state attorneys and empowering police prosecutors to speed up criminal trials.

Resident Judge Justice Victoria Katamba encouraged collaboration within the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) to tackle overcrowding and ensure long-remanded inmates are included on court cause lists.

In response, Justice Kajuga reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to reforms for faster case disposal, urging judicial officers to work continuously rather than wait for scheduled sessions to reduce backlogs and deliver timely justice.

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