Police ask govt, EU to build children’s remand homes

Jul 07, 2009

South-Western region Police officers have asked the Government and the European Union (EU) to construct juvenile remand homes in the region.

By Fred Turyakira

South-Western region Police officers have asked the Government and the European Union (EU) to construct juvenile remand homes in the region.

Kanungu district Police commander Nazarius Mugisha said the rate of crimes committed by juveniles had shot up. Mugisha added that they needed juvenile remand homes to reduce the number of young offenders in Police cells.

Because of the lack of such remand homes, juvenile suspects who are tried in the south-western region have to be transported to Naguru, Mulago and Kisubi remand homes in Kampala.

Mugisha made the remarks on Friday while closing a training workshop for Police officers at the Rwizi Arch Hotel in Mbarara.

The workshop on human rights capacity building was funded by the European Union. South-western regional Police spokesperson Polly Namaye said constructing juvenile remand homes in the region would reduce the cost of transporting suspects to remand homes in Kampala.

The assistant commissioner of Police in-charge of the planning unit, John Kamya, urged Police officers to respect human rights. Kamya said officers who misbehave and do not respect human rights while handling suspects downscore the work of the Police.

He said the Police would soon open up a professional standard unit in the region to sensitise officers. Kamya added that the unit would strengthen the community policing programme to control crime.

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