Uganda Prisons to Release Civil Debtors to Ease on Congestion

Uganda Prisons to Release Civil Debtors to Ease on Congestion

As one way to reduce congestion in the country’s prisons facilities especially during this period of COVID19 pain, Uganda Prisons Service top administration is expected this week to discuss the possibility of freeing over 400 civil debtors who are currently in its custody.

According to Commissioner General of Prisons Dr Johnson Byabashaija, among the solutions that have been suggested, is releasing all civil debtors since most of the complainants have not played their part as required by law.

“Ever since the COVID19 pandemic broke out in the country, creditors have not been able to bring funds to cater for meals of the civil debtors, which has left us with no option but to feed them on prisoner’s diet which is unfortunate,” he said.

Besides feeding these people a meal which they are not supposed to eat, Byabashaija says they heavily constrain their limited budget.

Ugandan laws require the complainant to foot the feeding costs of the civil debtor throughout their stay in prison.

On their preparations towards prevention of the COVID19 pandemic, Byabashaija says all prisoners in all facilities were sensitized by a team from Ministry of Health Task force on prevention measures

“It’s because of the sensitization that you have not heard of any strike in our prisons resulting from suspending of visits to inmates and not taking them to court,” he said.

Additionally, Prisons have implemented separation of new remand prisoners in isolation centres like Kitalya, Bushenyi, Nwoya, Soroti and Nwoya prisons were they stay for fourteen days before mixing with others

“We have provided all the front line staff with protective equipment for their safety. We are currently producing face masks which are going to be worn by all prisoners.”

For prison staff on duty, Byabashaija says these were encamped within the facilities to reduce the risk of transferring the virus from the outside community to inmates.

Since March this year, Uganda Prisons has received over 3000 prisoners, most of whom were arrested for disobedience of Presidential directives in line with prevention of COVID19.



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