The Ugandan government is actively pursuing funding amounting to sh103 billion for the construction of new prisons as a measure to alleviate congestion in existing cells. The announcement was made by Robert Kasande, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, during the 28th Joint Government of Uganda Development partners access to Justice sub-programme annual review held at Imperial Royale Hotel in December.
Kasande highlighted the challenges posed by prison congestion within the criminal justice system, stating that while the national population growth rate stands at 3% per annum, the prisoners’ population growth rate is 8% per annum. Additionally, prisons’ holding capacity grows at a rate of 3.8% per annum.
Statistical projections indicate that by the year 2031/2032, the prison population is estimated to reach 153,145, with a corresponding holding capacity of 29,371 and a congestion rate of 521.4%. In response, Kasande emphasized the necessity of constructing more facilities, specifically mini-maximum security prisons, each with a capacity to hold 4,000 prisoners.
The estimated cost for the phased construction of regional mini-maxi prisons is sh102.9 billion. Kasande emphasized that this investment would result in cost savings related to healthcare, facilitate effective rehabilitation programs, and enhance human rights observance for individuals in detention.
In an interview, Frank Baine, the spokesperson for the Uganda Prisons Service, provided insight into the current situation, noting that Uganda currently operates 266 prisons accommodating 76,432 detainees, while the holding capacity is designed for 21,000 prisoners.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Nobert Mao emphasized the importance of implementing the 48-hour rule for arrested suspects as a key measure to reduce congestion in prisons and enhance service delivery within the justice system. Mao also underscored the significance of respecting court rulings promptly to prevent delays causing congestion in cells.
As part of the government’s efforts to address the challenges, the Justice sub-programme annual review highlighted strategic investments in constructing justice centers and decreasing the percentage of pre-trial detainees. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported supervising 14,595 community service orders, surpassing the annual target, and a rise in convicts sentenced to community service.
Overall, the crime rate in Uganda increased from 458% in FY2021/22 to 524 in FY2022/23 per 100,000 population, as indicated in a recently released Rule of Law report.
