Prisons boss wants extra sh30b

By Paul Kiwuwa

The Prisons Service wants Parliament to approve sh30b to make room for the increasing number of inmates in prisons countrywide. Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner General of Prisons, made the appeal to the MPs on the committee on defence and internal affairs.

“I am seeking Parliament’s approval of a supplementary budget of sh30b for the 2013/2014 financial year although Parliament insists on approving sh15b, under the current budget allocations,” he said.

The MPs are scrutinising the budget framework for the Defence, Police and Prison forces in the proposed budget for the financial year 2013/2014.

Byabashaija told the MPs that most of the prisons used were built before independence and are, therefore, dilapidated and not suitable for human habitation.

He explained that over 6,000 prison wardens lack housing facilities, are housed in unipots and structures not suitable for them, while others rent outside the prison barracks.

“If prison staff rent outside the barracks, it compromises the security of the prisons and the public at large,” he said. He added that the prison service needs Parliament to approve at least sh40b for the construction of two bed-roomed houses for about 500 prison staff.

Byabashaija said there is need for Government to increase on the current budget for the construction of more prisons to accommodate the increasing number of inmates.

He told the MPs that given the meagre budget he gets cannot afford to provide even two pairs of uniforms or construct houses for staff or prison warders.

Byabashaija said the congestion in the over 50 government prisons countrywide is overwhelming. “The prison facilities constructed to cater for 14,000 inmates, now cater for over 37,000 inmates.

“Prisoners, like any other persons, need good feeding, clothes, mattresses, blankets and medical care, but the budget limits the prison service to availing only the basic necessities.”

Byabashaija had appeared before the committee to answer queries raised in the proposed budget for the financial year 2013/2014.

He said they have identified 460 acres of land at Kasanje near Entebbe to relocate Kigo Government Prison.

Kigo Prison is one of Uganda’s largest jails, located in Kigo village on the shores of Lake Victoria in Wakiso district. The land belongs to Buganda and is to be returned to the kingdom.