Rugunda focuses on post-jail skills

Dec 19, 2003

THE Minister of Internal Affairs, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, has urged prison officers to impart skills into inmates that will enable them contribute to the development of society when they are integrated back to their communities

By Esther Mukyala

THE Minister of Internal Affairs, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, has urged prison officers to impart skills into inmates that will enable them contribute to the development of society when they are integrated back to their communities.

Rugunda said prisoners should use the time in prison profitably by learning skills like tailoring, brick laying, carpentry, farming and masonry.
“Prison should be a correctional centre where offenders are helped to change and be integrated in society when they have become better persons not habitual offenders,” he said.

Rugunda made the remarks while on a tour of Police and Prison facilities in Bugiri district recently.
He said the Government was working out a new system where minor offenders would not be kept in prison but serve their sentences under community service.

Rugunda said the measure would decongest the prisons whose services were overstretched.
“We want you outside jail as free people. Watch out against bad habits lest you get out worse than you came in,” he said.
Rugunda said the new chain-link of security officers, magistrates, RDCs and the district leadership would root out problems like missing files and ensure proper handling of cases.

Assistant inspector of Police Francis Rwego and of Prisons Wycliff Kururagyire accompanied him.

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