Museveni commended for recognizing prison staff

By Petride Mudoola

THE Commissioner General of Prisons Dr Johnson Byabashaija has commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for recognizing prison staff for their exceptional performance in the service. 

Byabashaija made this remarks while officiating over the piping ceremony where Harriet Ayerango a former principal officer 11 was decorated the rank of principal officer 1 subsequent to the president’s promotion.  

“Such occasions are not common where you get a head of state recognizing staff and promoting her. This was a very rare occurrence and for that matter I want to congratulate Ayerango for that achievement of being promoted by non-other than his Excellency the President,” said Byabashaija. 

This comes after the president awarded golden jubilee medals to 10 female prison officers during celebrations to mark this year’s Women’s day in Kumi where a total of 246 people were awarded golden jubilee medals. 

The President promoted Ayerango from the rank of principal officer 11 to that of principal officer 1 having noticed her exceptional guard commanding skills that she exhibited at the function. 

In the history of Uganda, there is no president who has recognized prison officers Byabashaija said as he recalled one of the purported promotions in Mutukula which later turned out to be false. 

“So this was a very rare occurrence. And for that matter I want to congratulate Ayerago for that achievement of being promoted relevantly moreover on Women’s Day. I want to thank the president for that timely recognition,” the prisons chief stated. 

Byabashaija noted that Ayerango has proved to fellow staff that a person can excel anywhere as long the individual has a positive attitude towards work. 

The Prisons chief appealed to prison officers to emulate gold medallist Stephen Kiprotich and Ayerango so that Uganda Prisons Service can occupy the position it deserves in the armed forces of this country.