56 Prison officers promoted

Jan 11, 2009

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has promoted 56 Prisons officers to different ranks. Two ranks for director of prisons were created while other officers were promoted to the ranks of commissioner, assistant commissioner, senior superintendent, superintendent an

By Jude Kafuuma
and Anne Mugisa


PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has promoted 56 Prisons officers to different ranks.

A statement issued on Saturday by the Commissioner General of Prisons, Dr. Johnson Byabashaija, said two ranks for director of prisons were created while other officers were promoted to the ranks of commissioner, assistant commissioner, senior superintendent, superintendent and assistant superintendent of prisons respectively.

“The President of the Republic of Uganda in exercise of the powers conferred upon him under Article 172 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, section 10 (c) of the Prisons Act (2006) and on advice of the Prisons Authority, has appointed 56 Prisons Officers on promotion,” read the statement.

Tommy Ochen and Moses Katungye who have been at the rank of commissioner of prisons have been promoted to the newly created rank of director of prisons.

Jack Wycliff Kururagyire and Augustine Obura were promoted from assistant commissioner to commissioner of prisons.

“In 2006 we got a new Prisons structure which widened our operations.

This structure also allowed prisons to create two positions for directors of prisons that the President has just appointed,” said Frank Baine Mayanja, the Uganda Prisons public relations officer.

Five senior superintendents were promoted to the rank of assistant commissioner of prisons, 11 from superintendent to senior superintendent of prisons, 16 from assistant superintendent to superintendent of prisons and 20 from principal officers to assistant superintendent of prisons.

Mayanja said: “Promotion is a routine exercise in the Prisons service. The President considered hard work and experience.”

Mayanja, who was promoted from superintendent of prisons to senior superintendent, remains the public relations officer.

The promotions have created a vacuum of 20 positions for principal officers of prisons who have been appointed as assistant superintendents of prisons.

“The Prisons council will promote staff at lower ranks to fill the positions of principal officers. If they are not enough, then we shall recruit more from the public and train them for the job,” Mayanja said.

The appointments took immediate effect and the piping ceremony to be presided over by the Minister of Internal Affairs will take place this Thursday at Luzira Prisons Training School.

In the recent past the Prisons service has grappled with challenges of congestion and inadequate resources for the in-mates.

Mayanja said the Prisons authorities have advocated for non-custodial sentencing to reduce remand population.

“With the creation of the positions of director, we hope to voice our advocacy,” said Mayanja. Meanwhile, 20 cadets at the Luzira Prisons school are undergoing training to join the service.

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