A CRITICAL ANALYSIS ON PLEA BARGAINING AND THE LAW IN UGANDA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................................... i

APPROVAL .................................................................................................................................................. ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................................... iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................. v

LIST OF STATUTES ................................................................................................................................ viii

LIST OF CASES .......................................................................................................................................... ix

LIST OF ACRONYMY .............................................................................................................................. xii

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................................................ 1

I .0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 1

I. I Background of the Study ......................................................................................................................... 2

1.2 Problem Statement .................................................................................................................................. 5

I .3 General Objective .................................................................................................................................... 6

I .4 Specific Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 6

1.5 Research Question ................................................................................................................................... 6

I .6 Scope of the Study ................................................................................................................................... 7

1.7 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................................................ 7

I .8 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 8

1.9 Literature Review .................................................................................................................................... 8

CHAPTER TW0 ......................................................................................................................................... 12

2.0 Legal Framework .................................................................................................................................. 12

2.1 Domestic legislation .............................................................................................................................. 12

2.1.1 The Constitution ofthe Republic of Uganda 1995 (as amended) ...................................................... 12

2.1.2 The Criminal Procedure Code Act Cap I 16 ....................................................................................... 15

2.1.3 The Penal Code Act cap 120 .............................................................................................................. 15

2.1.4 The Magistrate's Comt Act Cap 16 ................................................................................................... 15

2. I .5 The Trial on Indictments Act Cap 23 ................................................................................................. 16

2. I .6 The Judicature Act Cap. 13 ................................................................................................................ 17

v

2.1.7 The Uganda Human Rights Commission Act Cap 24 ........................................................................ 17

2.1.8 The Evidence Act Cap 6 ..................................................................................................................... 18

2.1.9 The Extradition Act Cap 117 .............................................................................................................. 19

2.2 International Legislations ...................................................................................................................... 19

2.2.1 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) .......................................................... 19

2.2.1.1 The right to a fair hearing ................................................................................................................ 20

2.2.1.2 The right to a public hearing ........................................................................................................... 20

2.2.1.3 The right to a presumption of innocence ......................................................................................... 21

2.2.1.4 The prohibition on self-incrimination ............................................................................................. 22

2.2.1.5 The prohibition on retroactive application of criminal laws ........................................................... 22

2.2.2 The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights ................................................................. 23

2.2.3 Convention Against Torture ............................................................................................................... 23

2.3 Institutional Framework ........................................................................................................................ 24

2.3.1 The Society ......................................................................................................................................... 24

2.3 .2 The Local Council .............................................................................................................................. 24

2.3.3 The Police Force ................................................................................................................................. 25

2.3.4 The Director of Public Prosecution .................................................................................................... 26

2.3.5 The Inspector General ofGovernment ............................................................................................... 27

2.3.6 The Comis of Judicature .................................................................................................................... 27

2.3.7 The Prison Service ............................................................................................................................. 28

2.3.8 The Lawyers ....................................................................................................................................... 29

2.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 29

CHAPTER THREE ..................................................................................................................................... 30

3.0 What Are Plea Bargaining? ................................................................................................................... 30

3.1 The practice of plea bargain in Uganda ................................................................................................. 31

3.2 Understanding the Plea Bargaining Process: ......................................................................................... 33

3.2.1 The Fact that a judge must establish before conviction and sentencing ............................................. 36

3 .2.2 After the Plea is entered ..................................................................................................................... 37

3.3 Its Challenges and Conflicts with Law .................................................................................................. 38

3.3.1 Waiver of Constitutional and Statutory Rights .................................................................................. 39

3.3.2 The process of plea taking, ................................................................................................................ .41

3.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 44

vi

CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................................... 45

4.0 Recommendation and Conclusion ........................................................................................................ .45

4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 45

4.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................. 45

4.2.1 Regulation ......................................................................................................................................... .45

4.2.2 Recruitment ....................................................................................................................................... .45

4.2.3 Remuneration .................................................................................................................................... .46

4.2.4 More and better facilities .................................................................................................................... 46

4.2.5 Sensitization ....................................................................................................................................... 46

4.2.6 Expeditious investigations ................................................................................................................. .46

4.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 47

BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................................... .48

vii