New districts lack prisons - UHRC

Apr 10, 2008

NEWLY-created districts lack basic security infrastructure like Police posts and prison cells, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has observed.

By Josephine Maseruka

NEWLY-created districts lack basic security infrastructure like Police posts and prison cells, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has observed.

Chairperson Margaret Sekaggya recently told journalists that the discovery was made after a country-wide inspection of detention centres.

“There are still many challenges in handling suspects by the Police and the army. Authorities need to pay attention to newly created districts in improving detention centres.”

She said the absence of the facilities had delayed dispensing of justice and increased cases of escape.

Commissioner Bernard Turyashemererwa in charge of the north, said Amuru district has no court, magistrate, cells and a Police post.
“Taking suspects to Gulu is very risky. They can escape on the way. To improvise, authorities have built a unipot housing 24 inmates.”

He said the Justice Law and Order Sector was funding the construction of Police stations in Oyam and Amuru, which in addition would get a prison and court.

Francis Ogwal, the Fort Portal human rights chief, said cells in Buliisa district had not been upgraded from the original sub-county status.

Ogwal said seven inmates recently escaped from Buliisa because they were crowded in a tiny room with weak doors, which was serving as a cell.

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