Remand period too long, says Kategaya

By John NzinjahINTERNAL affairs minister Eriya Kategaya has expressed concerned over the long stay of suspects on remand.“Some suspects have remained on remand for three, four and five years,” Kategaya said, citing the example of Katojo Prison in Kabarole district, where a UPDF soldier has reportedly been on remand for five years.Kategaya, who is also First Deputy Prime Minister, was on Tuesday addressing Police officers in Kasese district at their headquarters.Kategaya said the problem was countrywide. He said over 67 percent of the prisoners were suspects on remand.Responding to the minister’s concern, Kasese district resident state attorney Charles Ngabirano said the country was experiencing a shortage of High Court judges.“The judges we have are engaged in listening to election petitions. On the other hand some of the suspects who stay long on remand have more than one charge against them,” Ngabirano said.Ngabirano added, “That particular UPDF soldier at Katojo prison had more than one charge. The charges are settled one by one as time goes by.Earlier in his report, the resident district commissioner, Musa Ecweru, told the minister that the district was free of rebel activity but robbery had become rampant in most urban centres.