Strasbourg, France | AFP | Prisons in Britain are “violent, unsafe and overcrowded”, according to a damning report published on Thursday by the Council of Europe. The pan-European rights body’s anti-torture committee also reported “alarmingly high” levels of substance abuse and said large numbers of prisoners suffered from mental health disorders. …
Read More »Parliament calls for audit of police, prisons facilities
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has tasked the House Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs to carry out an audit of police stations and prisons across the country. Kadaga’s directive followed a heated debate by Members of Parliament concerning the poor state of cell …
Read More »Prisons launch cotton farm in Kitgum
Kitgum, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Internal Affairs Minister, Mario Kania Obiga launched the Uganda Prisons cotton farm in Orom-Tikao government prisons in Kitgum district. The farm sits on a 7,200 acre of land in Tikao village Gule parish in Orom sub county that was offered by the community free …
Read More »Prisoners decry justice system, prison conditions
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Inmates have decried the poor prison conditions and justice system that has unfairly kept many of them in jail. The inmates, complained about poor feeding, health facilities, congestion, denial of the right to vote, delayed appeals in court and an unfair criminal justice …
Read More »Kenya’s plan to privatise prisons
Why it’s risky and needs careful planning Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kenya is taking steps towards privatising its prisons. Gráinne Perkins asked expert Rob Allen, an independent researcher and cofounder of Justice and Prisons, about the benefits and risks of prison privatisation. Why do countries involve the private sector …
Read More »Uganda Prisons wants high profile suspects to remain handcuffed in Court
Kampala, Uganda | URN | Uganda Prisons Service is in talks with the Judiciary to allow them present high profile suspects before Court with their handcuffs on to prevent them from escaping. Dr Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner General of Prisons, says they cannot afford to continue losing high-profile suspects. The …
Read More »Macron lays out court revamp to tackle prison overcrowding
Agen, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled Tuesday a series of court overhauls aimed at finding alternatives to jail, a bid to tackle chronic overcrowding at the country’s prisons. His proposals came on the heels of nearly two weeks of protests in January by prison guards angry over …
Read More »President Museveni warns on death penalty
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has warned that increasing crime will force him to revise his position on the death penalty. Museveni said he has not been assenting to hanging of convicts because of his Christian background but being lenient is causing Ugandans to think they …
Read More »VIDEO: UPDF & Prisons to deploy medical personnel as doctors strike rages
VIDEO: UPDF & Prisons to deploy medical personnel as doctors strike rages Kampala, Uganda | NTV UGANDA | The Uganda People’s Defense Forces and Uganda Prisons have confirmed that they will send a general team of medical officers to Mulago, Kiruddu and Kawempe hospitals to attend to patients. Speaking to NTV, …
Read More »THIS WEEK: Prisons boss decries remand inmate population
THIS WEEK: Prisons boss decries remand inmate population Commissioner General of Prisons Johnson Byabashaija has decried the population of inmates on remand in Ugandan prions as the highest in East Africa. Byabashaija was speaking to judicial officers and prosecutors at a plea bargaining conference in Kampala when he added that …
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