UHRC releases disturbing detention report for eastern Uganda

Soroti, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Soroti Regional Office has released a disturbing report regarding the conditions of detention facilities in Eastern Uganda. This was after the commission monitored and inspected detention facilities in 17 districts of Teso, Bugisu, and Sebei sub-regions, as well as the two cities of Mbale and Soroti during the financial year 2024/2025. Katakwi district was the only one not inspected.

The regional office inspected 76 detention facilities including 17 prisons, 18 central police stations, 26 police stations, 13 police posts, Mbale remand home, and Bugema military detention facility. The Commission, among other functions under Article 52 (1) (b) of the Constitution, is required to visit jails, prisons, remand homes, and army detention facilities with a view of assessing and inspecting the conditions of inmates and making appropriate recommendations.

During a half-day stakeholders dissemination meeting held at Soroti City, Josephine Akello, the human rights officer from the Soroti Regional Office, presented findings regarding major human rights concerns in detention facilities across the subregions. The report highlighted several key issues within prisons, including overcrowding, inadequate staffing, prolonged pre-trial detention, the mixing of juvenile offenders with adults, and mothers incarcerated with their children.

It also pointed out the problematic transfers of remand prisoners away from their district courts, as well as the existence of old and dilapidated buildings. Additional concerns noted in the report included insufficient bedding and clothing, poor access to clean and safe water, inadequate sanitation and hygiene, excessive workloads for inmates, escapes from lawful custody, long waiting times in court, and a lack of alternative power sources, among others.

The commission found that the prison population is way above the planned ward capacities, caused by prolonged pre-trial detention, limited space, and high crime rates. Akello stated that some facilities were found to accommodate twice or even three times their intended capacity, predominantly affecting male inmates. This overcrowding has a significant impact on the health, safety, and dignity of prisoners.

This was noted at Uganda Government Prisons of Mbale Main (1,452 inmates), Soroti Main (1,385), Bubulo (394), Serere (210), Mutufu (242), Odina (187), Amuria (232), Kaberamaido (192) among others. At Bubulo prison, the inmates reported sleeping in toilets due to lack of space. The commission found many detainees or inmates both on capital and petty offences on remand for many years—over ten years—without their cases being disposed of.

This was attributed to a number of factors such as delayed resolution of cases by courts, few High Court sessions, irregular court sessions, frequent adjournments of cases, absence of State Attorneys in some places and courts, delayed investigations by police, lack of transport to take inmates to court, and delayed police investigations among others.

In Mbale Main prison, for example, 545 inmates had been committed to High Court, and 79 inmates from Bubulo prison had spent over two years without being committed to High Court. The longest stay remand prisoners at Mbale Main are from 2014 and 2019. The report said 56 capital offenders at Soroti Main had not been committed to High Court, 22 of whom have been on remand pending committals from 2022 (cases are for mention). Ngora prison had 2 inmates on capital offences reported being on remand since 2022 and 2023 respectively and have not been committed to High Court, whereas Kumi had 8 capital offenders, Bukedea 1, and Soroti Women 7 capital offenders.

Kumi had 8 petty offenders, Ngora 2 petty offenders, Soroti Women with 2 petty offenders, and 55 petty offenders at Soroti main (1 inmate reported being on remand for 1 year and 7 months). It was also noted that prisons had less than the required staff capacity. The average staff capacity ranged between 15-149 prison officers and yet the staff-prisoner ratio is supposed to be 1:3. However, the number of prisoners per custodial staff ranged between 10-15.

It was also highlighted that inmates attending court are not fed after spending long hours in court, which affects the lives of those with diabetes and ulcers. Skin infections like scabies were noted in some detention facilities due to lack of proper hygiene maintenance, especially in Mutufu, Serere, and Bubulo. Inmates in Serere reported having lice, skin rashes, and swellings in their private parts, while at Soroti Main, inmates reported having urinary tract infections (UTI) and bed bugs.

Most prisons also lacked isolation cells for inmates with contagious diseases, with the exception of Mbale Main, but sometimes improvised in case of emergencies. At the remand home in Mbale serving Busoga, Teso, Bugisu, Bukedi, Sebei, and Karamoja, there are currently 112 juveniles between 12-17 years, yet it was built with the capacity for only 40 boys and five girls.

It also lacks a van for taking juveniles to their respective courts for hearings. In police detention facilities, there is a lack of appropriate detention facilities for female and juvenile suspects within police stations and posts. As a result, these individuals are often placed in the offices of officers dealing with serious offenders, while those with minor offenses are typically released immediately.

There is also a shortage of female officers in some detention facilities, which compromises respect for the rights of female suspects during their arrests. Additionally, many facilities still rely on a bucket system for disposing of human waste at night, which is inadequate. The commission observed that adults are being detained for longer than 48 hours and children for more than 24 hours.

Some suspects are held for periods ranging from 3 to 19 days without being taken to court. This phenomenon is attributed to delays in investigations caused by a lack of transportation. In certain districts such as Kalaki, Kapelebyong, and Kween, there are no resident state attorneys available.

Furthermore, the commission found that some children who have not yet reached the age of criminal responsibility—defined as the age of 12—were being detained in several police stations. In one particular station, six out of the eight detainees were under 12 years old.

Other human rights concerns raised at the police stations included dilapidated structures, insufficient transportation for police officers at the sub-county level, and inadequate food provisions for suspects. Akello stated that these critical issues will be addressed during a national engagement organized in Kampala by their head office on Wednesday. The recommendations resulting from this engagement will help improve the protection and promotion of the rights and freedoms of detainees in Uganda.

Despite a national understaffing level of 1 to 7, ACP Ronald Kalali, the regional prisons commander for the Mid-Eastern region in Soroti, reported earlier this year that over 1,000 warders and wardresses have been recruited and will soon begin training, which will help close staffing gaps. He also pledged to address the issue of suspected juvenile detention in Amuria, Serere, Kaberamaido, and Nakatunya prisons. Kalali, however, mentioned that they are exploring solutions for feeding inmates during long court sessions, adding that during harvest periods, inmates are sometimes overworked beyond the recommended six hours.

Sarah Amunyir, the probation and welfare officer in charge of the Mbale remand home, explained that she had to send back some ‘children’ who had beards because they appeared to be adults. She reported being attacked for this decision, noting that there are only three staff members overseeing more than 112 juveniles.

According to her, while there are enough bedding materials, there is limited space in the remand home for children to sleep comfortably. Betty Agudo, a representative from Justice for Children Coordination in the Kumi and Soroti court circuits, pointed out that the issue of age verification for inmates remains a significant challenge due to the presence of only one police surgeon.

SSP Joseph Otai, the regional prisons commander for the Eastern region in Mbale, stated that overcrowding in prisons is a result of population growth coupled with limited cell space and some inactive judiciary processes. Amos Oluka Adotu, the senior probation and welfare officer for Soroti district, emphasized that detention of children should be considered a last resort as it can lead them to adopt bad behavior.

He advocated for the use of alternative dispute resolution for petty and minor offenses and cautioned police officers against handcuffing juveniles, as it may further criminalize them. Bosco Otim, the regional police commander for the Elgon region, now transferred to Bukedi North, stated that the findings reflect the true conditions of detention facilities, and he wants these issues addressed with their supervisors in Kampala.

SSP Gad Murungi, the regional police commander for East Kyoga, reported that their region has a workforce of 459 personnel, with 40 percent being female, stationed at the subcounties, which will help address the staffing issue. Emmy Geoffrey Sayekwo, the deputy registrar for Soroti High Circuit, who was concluding the meeting, noted that they have conducted plea bargains and approximately three high court sessions aimed at reducing prison overcrowding.

He stated, “Since last December to date, we have had very successful plea-bargaining sessions, handling a number of cases, and in the last six months, we conducted two additional high court sessions.” Sayekwo urged stakeholders, including police and prison commanders, to fulfill their duties as civil servants without corruption, so that their contributions are recognized.

James Small Chemutai, the acting resident city commissioner of Soroti, stated that the government is committed to upholding human rights obligations across the country. He mentioned that a way forward would be established to identify and address existing gaps in these practices.

Paul Eseru, the Soroti District Resident Commissioner, pledged to uphold the rights of every individual throughout the country. Several positive developments have been noted, including the construction and renovation of facilities, the implementation of best practices for creating low-cost accommodations, improved registration and records management, and rehabilitation programs for inmates. Other improvements include the establishment of human rights committees in prisons, better access to health services, the complete phase-out of bucket systems for defecation and urination, and improved access to adequate food.

****

URN