KAMPALA, Uganda | The former Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera cautioned prosecutors about collaboration if they are to uphold effective and efficient prosecution in the criminal justice system.

Buteera made the remarks while officiating at a 4-day Annual Prosecutors Symposium at Africana Hotel in Kampala yesterday.

”A prosecutor must have it in mind that you work independently and you take independent decisions, but never should you work in isolation from others in the criminal justice system.” Buteera said

He added that collaboration not only at the national level but also regionally and internationally is particularly important in the fight against complex and cross-border crimes.

Buteera reflected on his time as Director of Public Prosecutions when he was appointed a day before the enactment of the 1995 constitution, when the office was in its infancy, with only 21 lawyers and limited independence.

He revealed that with collaborative lobbying and support from parliament, he oversaw key institutional reforms, including securing financial autonomy, reducing reliance on police-led prosecutions, and expanding the ODDP’s presence to now over 120 offices nationwide, which enabled him to expand his workforce to about 300 prosecutors by 2013.

” We have to act fast and look for reliable scientific evidence by cooperating with the experts, with the scientists. shift our mindset to the use of scientific evidence because it’s being used here and elsewhere.” Buteera added

Butera furthermore advised prosecutors to maintain close coordination with judicial officers, clerks, and court staff to ensure a smooth flow of cases and encouraged the practice of plea bargaining and stressed the need for prosecutors to identify and present plea-ready cases.

”It is in this area again where prosecutors will point out to judges which cases are ready for plea bargains, and I think in this regard, prosecutors are ready for plea bargains. And i think in this regard, prosecutors have already talked about cases that are ready for plea bargain on the first day of plea,” he said

Buteera stressed the value of joint training between investigators and prosecutors, drawing from his own experience of conducting such sessions by reviewing concluded cases, adding that gaps in investigations and prosecutions can be identified and addressed through practical learning.