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Community service orders are decongesting prisons in the selected district in the West Nile region due to alternative sentencing that is not custodial, New Vision Online has learned.

A community service order is an order made under the Community Service Act requiring an offender to perform work within the community for a specified period.

In the financial year, 2022/2023 in the Yumbe district there were 220 community service orders, Koboko had 187 and Arua had 341.

However, in the half year of 2023/2024, Yumbe had 53 orders, Koboko 66, Maracha 39, and Arua had 257 orders.

Justice Tadeo Asiimwe, the chairperson of the national community service programme in the Courts of Judicature, said community service orders have helped to decongest the prisons.

He made the revelation on Tuesday during a meeting that was meant to popularise community service in the country, this week the community service team pitched camp in West Nile.

He said previously the orders were focusing more on an alternative sentence but they are now ensuring that the offenders are rehabilitated.

“If the rehabilitation is executed well, the same offenders will not appear in the justice system. Imagine releasing a suspect right now but they are back either in the Police or the courts of law in hours. So, now what are we doing that explains the rehabilitation”, He said.

Custodial sentence conditions

He asked judicial officers to give custodial sentences to serial offenders instead of continuously giving them community services.

According to the regional prison commander of North West Nile, Leni Ndori, they currently have 4,155 inmates, 16 children, and 15 debtors.

He said they have good coordination with the Judiciary and community services, which has helped to reduce riots in the region.

“Previously we used to have petty offenders staying for six months after custodial sentences but currently, most of them are given community service,” he said.

However, he decried delayed justice in the courts of law.

Arua Resident District Commissioner Geoffrey Okiswa decried the communication gap between the district security committee and the Judiciary when it comes to community service orders.

“If only we could bridge the gap between the Judiciary community services and the district, then we would know that this convict is doing community service in this area, therefore, it will be easy to monitor,” he said.

Ben Amandu, a past offender, said the rehabilitation programme helps one to become self-reliant.

“I am one of those who got skills like bricklaying, soap making, and making reusable pads under the European Union and currently, I'm able to make liquid soap,” he said.