Prisons visits stopped over deadly outbreak

By Petride Mudoola

Uganda Prisons Service has suspended visitations in prison units in affected areas until the country is declared Ebola free.

This comes three days after the Ministryof Health and the World Health Organisation confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Kibaale district, over 200km west of Kampala.

“Subsequent to the national guidelines, the prison management thought it wise to temporarily suspend visits to prisons.

In light of the endemic you are calledupon to take precautionary measures to prevent Ebola in Uganda Prisons Service,” Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner General of Prisons, noted.

The commissioner’s directive, issued on Tuesday, applies in mid-western, mid central and Kampala Extra regions.

Byabashaija further directed offi cers in charge of prison units to take precautions regarding admissions and that where possible new admissions should be separated for observation since the incubation period is 21 days.

According to the Prison’s chief, there must be limited movements of prisoners, especially those who have direct contact with the public and staff should also limit movements particularly to places where Ebola has been identified.

Any suspected cases of Ebola must be promptly isolated and reported to the office of the Commissioner General of Prisons or to the District Health Offi cer.

However, the prison medical services have not yet reported any case of Ebola according to the medical Superintendant of Murchison Bay Hospital, Dr. Joseph Andama.

Several visitors were yesterday stopped by the Regional Prisons Commander Kampala, Extra Zachary Owoko, when they came to visit inmates.

“We, the management of prisons, given the fact that prisons are very highly congested and, therefore, prone to the quick spreading of Ebola, have decided for the time being to suspend visits to prisoners until further notice,” Owoko explained to the visitors.

Strict measures are being taken on how to handle prisoners attending court, including new entrants, he added.