The Public Accounts Committee of parliament has directed Uganda Prisons Services to produce the names of prisons officers who are behind torture of inmates. This was after establishing that the Uganda Prisons owe prisoners compensations due to torture and other forms of human rights violations amounting to Shs244m
While interfacing with officials of Uganda prisons Services over queries highlighted in the Auditor General’s Report of financial year ended June 202, Legislators on the Public Accounts Committee in Charge of Central Government noted with concern that Uganda Prisons Services is choking on arrears of court awards and compensation to inmates amounting to Shs 244.3m which accumulate interest every month with no adequate budget to settle them.
In this regard the committee directed Uganda Prisons Services to produce a detailed report on the origin of the cases leading to the court awards and avail names of prison officers behind the torture and violation of human rights of inmates.
The Public Accounts Committee chairperson also demanded for a comprehensive report on action taken against officers that inflicted torture on victims.
The committee also queried the overs stay on remand for inmates and asked Prisons Services to work out a comprehensive strategy with other agencies under Justice Law and order sector to reduce the time people spend in prisons.
Long remand stays are highlighted as the root cause of overcrowding in prisons. The current prison carrying capacity in Uganda stands at 19,986 inmates but Prisons says they have 70,119 inmates as of June 2022. Exceeding the holding capacity by 50,113 inmates which represents 250.8& occupancy.
