Kategaya To Abolish Law On Idleness

By Kenneth OtimTHE First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs, Eriya Kategaya, has said he will abolish the police law on being idle and disorderly to reduce congestion in prisons.He said “I am thinking of removing the law because many people have been arrested in this way, filling up the prisons.” kategaya was yesterday opening a female ward at Soroti prisons funded by the Swedish government.The self-contained ward worth $80,000 (sh136m) will accommodate 50 inmates.Kategaya said cases of assault, tax defaulting and idleness should not be referred to prison but the victims should offer community services.It is expensive to keep such prisoners because we have to feed and accommodate them. Such a person should offer community service to reduce congestion,” he said. kategaya said, “prisons are meant to reform criminals but not to harden their hearts. We therefore need to improve the conditions of prisoners especially women because they need special attention.” The Soroti prison built for a capacity of 539 prisoners is accommodating 412 prisoners, 33 of whom are females with only four wards. On the issue of the immigrant pastoralists in Teso, Kategaya urged the national and local leaders not to jeorpadise the unity of the people. He said poverty in Teso was the main cause of concern about the Banyankole settlers. He advised the Teso MPs to fight poverty in the area instead of making noise on the pastoralists who are harmless.Ends