75% inmates are suspects â€" official
Jan 20, 2006
ABOUT three-quarters of the inmates across the country are suspects on remand, waiting for trial.
By Charles Ariko
and Muganzi Muhanguzi
ABOUT three-quarters of the inmates across the country are suspects on remand, waiting for trial.
Senior assistant commissioner of Prisons in-charge of administration David Nsalasata on Wednesday said of the total population of 19,258 inmates, only 7,592 have been convicted.
Nsalasata was launching the national paralegal advisory services project in Kampala.
The project, which is being hosted by the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, aims at enhancing access to justice through social workers and paralegals who will give legal services to the poor.
The project, which will initially run for 15 months, is expected to contribute to existing initiatives like community service, which also aims at decongesting the prisons.
“The situation needs to be reversed. We should have more convicts than suspects,†Nsalasata said.
He said the majority of the prisoners were illiterate and do not know their rights.
He appealed to paralegals to sensitise inmates about their rights.
and Muganzi Muhanguzi
ABOUT three-quarters of the inmates across the country are suspects on remand, waiting for trial.
Senior assistant commissioner of Prisons in-charge of administration David Nsalasata on Wednesday said of the total population of 19,258 inmates, only 7,592 have been convicted.
Nsalasata was launching the national paralegal advisory services project in Kampala.
The project, which is being hosted by the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, aims at enhancing access to justice through social workers and paralegals who will give legal services to the poor.
The project, which will initially run for 15 months, is expected to contribute to existing initiatives like community service, which also aims at decongesting the prisons.
“The situation needs to be reversed. We should have more convicts than suspects,†Nsalasata said.
He said the majority of the prisoners were illiterate and do not know their rights.
He appealed to paralegals to sensitise inmates about their rights.