📸 President Museveni cautions prison warders against unhealthy habits

KAMPALA - President Yoweri Museveni has encouraged prison warders and wardresses to adopt healthy lifestyles and avoid unhealthy habits and living recklessly.

He urged them to avoid drinking alcohol, being promiscuous and being lazy at work.

“If you know that you are a patriot and that your family and your country depend on you, you cannot handle your life recklessly. You cannot drink alcohol. You cannot be promiscuous. You cannot be lazy at work,” the President said in a statement read for him by the Vice President (VP), Jessica Alupo. She represented him at the passing out of 1,238 warders and wardresses.

President Yoweri Museveni in a statement read for him by the Vice President (VP), Jessica Alupo, encouraged prison warders and wardresses to adopt healthy lifestyles and avoid unhealthy habits and living recklessly. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

The function took place at the Maroons Grounds in Luzira Prison on Friday, April 17, 2026, and was attended by the internal affairs minister, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, the Permanent Secretary, Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, the Netherlands ambassador to Uganda, Frederieke Quispel, the Commissioner General of Prisons, Dr Johnson Byabashaija, among other guests. The VP inspected the new recruits’ parade on arrival at Luzira.     

“You should do sports and exercises in order to be fit and lead a disciplined life. If you do not do the above, you may get into complications, for example, you may be weakened by alcohol,” the President told the recruits.

He also warned them that they may get sexually transmitted diseases from leading promiscuous lifestyles, including catching HIV/AIDS. If they fail to exercise, he warned, they may become unfit and sickly.

Museveni also warned the recruits against indulging in overdrinking alcohol, saying the government has spent a lot of money to train them.

“This will undermine your ability to make a contribution to your country or sacrifice for it, if necessary. You need your body, mind and spirit to be in top condition so as to be ready to contribute to your Country, to East Africa and to Africa,” he explained.

Gen. Otafiire said that he is pleased to reveal that UPS is now a major producer of cotton and a major stakeholder in production and a centre of human capital development.

He said he had directed the management to fast-track the establishment of several factories, including a tannery, a garment factory and develop the capacity of producing ceremonial regalia like pips and swords to reduce the amount of money spent on importing them.

The Vice President (VP), Jessica Alupo, represent President Yoweri Museveni at the function.

He also warned the recruits against indulging in overdrinking alcohol, saying the government has spent a lot of money to train them.  

Dr. Byabashaija said that Uganda Prison Service boasts of 14,852 staff out of an approved staff of 39,462. He explained that the prisoners’ population currently stands at 79,833. The convicts total 42,886, 36,296 on remand. 

The debtors total 661 against a holding capacity of 23,184 countrywide.  

General Kahinda Otafiire, the Minister of Internal Affairs welcomed the Vice President (VP), Jessica Alupo at the function.

Byabashaija lamented that the prisoners’ population is increasing at an average of 7% per year. “This is high compared to the national population growth rate of 2.9% per annum,” he explained.

Over the last ten years, the commissioner general explained, prisoner population has grown from 45,920 in financial year 2015/2016 to the current 79,833 as of April 10, 2026.

He told the guests that the recruitment of new staff has enhanced the staff strength to 14,852, against the approved staff structure of 39,462.

The Commissioner General of Prisons Dr. Johnson Byabashaija (R) greets General Kahinda Otafiire, the Minister of Internal Affairs.

“The staff structure is therefore filled at 37.6% with 24,623 (62.4%) vacancies. The staffing has improved from 7,087 in 2010 to the current 14,852 in 2026.” 

The commandant of the Prisons Academy Training School, Mary Centenary, said the recruits were trained for nine months and two weeks.

She explained that 1,252 joined the course, but 17 were discharged, six were dropped on medical grounds, six left on their own request, and five escaped when things became too hot. She congratulated those who endured to complete and wished them fruitful careers.

_____________________

Prison officers perform acrobatics during the ceremony. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)