I want to build functional systems-Byabashaija

To mark 50 years of Uganda’s independence, New Vision will until October 9, 2012 be publishing highlights of events and profiling personalities that have shaped the history of this country. CHARLES ETUKURI interviewed Uganda Prisons boss about his take on what the prisons service has in store for the golden jubilee celebrations

Question: Uganda is celebrating the golden jubilee. Any surprise from prisons in terms of massive pardons?

Answer: Every year, the Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) submits names to the Attorney General for consideration for residential pardon. This year we have also done it. We have submitted about, 1000 names and it the committee for the prerogative of mercy to advise the President on whether the people should be released or not. I have done my part.

What are some of the considerations you take into account when drafting these names?

We usually look at people who are about to finish their sentence and have demonstrated good behaviour. We also focus on breastfeeding mothers, who have served half their sentence and old men who are serving their sentences and are over 70. 

How many of these do you think will be pardoned?

In the last four years I have known about four people who have benefitted from presidential pardon yet we have been submitting the names every year. So I cannot talk on behalf of the committee why the numbers are few. Uganda will later this month be hosting the International Conference of all African Heads 

Prisons under their umbrella organisation the African Correctional Service Association (ACSA). What is ACSA all about?

ACSA is an association that brings together all prison chiefs across Africa. It is a relatively young organisation. Its precursor is the Conference of the East, Southern and Central African Heads of Correctional Services Association (CESCA). Two years ago we had an inaugural meeting in Accra Ghana.

When they wanted people to host the second meeting, I proposed Ugandan because I wanted it to coincide with our 50th golden jubilee anniversary. It is very important that at the anniversary all the African Prison Chiefs are meeting to talk about prisons. Fifty years ago you wouldn’t even talk about prison.

How does an ordinary Ugandan benefit from this meeting?

First of all, these are visitors. They are going to spend money here. We are talking about a continental topic and issue. Prisons are no longer for lumpens. Anybody can go to prison but when you go to prison you should be treated with dignity and subjected to correctional programmes so that you are a better citizen when you are set free.

There are reports of many Ugandans languishing in foreign jails. Do we have a bilateral arrangement of Ugandans convicted abroad serving their sentences here?

These are some of the issues that we shall be discussing. When I went to Mauritius, there were Ugandans serving long sentences and it is their wish to come and serve the sentences here. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has agreed in principle and it’s a matter of implementation. The exchange programme is what we shall be focusing on in this ACSA meeting.

You are meeting against claims that the continent has some of the worst prison conditions in the world. You cannot handle prisons alone without talking about the socio-economic conditions of the country. The country must be economically sound so that you are able to deal with the issue of prisons.

Many African countries have prisons that you would not want to talk about. When you were sent to prison, it was like a death sentence had been served upon you but I am glad the situation in Uganda has changed dramatically.

Is it true that prison authorities torture inmates?

That is history. We still have a few cases though, but you pay dearly if we get you.

What are the key challenges the prisons service faces?

We still have challenges of congestion. We have challenges of health and sanitation but these are the things that we are beginning to address. We now have a budget as Uganda Prison Service and I can decide that this year we can build a facility and we do it.

That shows you the independence we have come to enjoy. However, prisons is at the bottom of the Governments’ priorities and rightly so. Even if you were the one in charge of the Government you would not want prison to be on top. So our budget will never do half of what we desire.

So, what are you doing about congestion in prisons?

We have been building and expanding our facilities, but we have not been talking about them in the public. If you go to Mbarara, Bushenyi, Kiruhura, Oyam, Nakasongola and Kitalya, among others, we have new facilities and are expanding the old facility. So I am going to temporarily relieve Luzira by sending prisoners to some of these other facilities. 

Whom do you blame for the backlog in the prison facilities?

You blame all the criminal justice agencies. Police work is to arrest and investigate. Once the investigation is not complete, prosecution cannot proceed. So you cannot blame any of them because it is a chain. We have a criminal justice system and it is giving me hell because 53% of my inmates are on remand awaiting trial and that is a subject of ACSA. 

What is the official capacity of our prisons?

Around 15,000 but today we have 34,000 prisoners. A space of one is being comparatively occupied by two people. Our incarceration rate is relatively low. We have less prisoners per 100,000 people.

Prisoners are demanding for conjugal rights like in other jurisdictions. Are we about to see the same happen here?

That one will not happen during my term. I am in my 30th year of service and therefore, at the twilight of my career. I only have two fundamental issues to address; first is to build a correctional facility, the facilities we have in our maximum prison are improvised.

I want to build a correctional facility with classrooms, workshops, a playground and anything you call correctional. Thank God we are at procurement stage. Secondly I want to have Luzira in another location probably Mukono. I want to see other services like shopping malls and big hotels where Luzira is currently. 

You are serving your second and probably last term. What kind of legacy would you want?

I would want to build an institution that has functional systems. We are very systematic and thorough and that is why we make very few mistakes.

I would say we are almost incorruptible because there is no officer in charge who will accept to take a bribe to reduce your sentence. I want to be seen as a person who instituted systems to run the UPS professionally.