Government to renovate remand homes

By Raymond Baguma                       

The Government has secured sh3b to renovate the remand homes in the country, the state minister for youth Ronald Kibuule has revealed.

Kibuule was on Wednesday chief guest at a function organised to mark the international human rights day which was held under the theme, “Human Rights 365.”

The event was held at Naguru Remand Home in Kampala and was organized by Uganda Human Rights Commission, the European Union Mission in Uganda and the UN Office for Human Rights.

Presently besides Naguru, there are six remand homes located in various regions across the country in Masindi, Mbale, Gulu, Kampala, Fort Portal, and Arua.

Kibuule also said that priority would be given to the renovation of Gulu Remand Home which is located in a region that is undergoing recovery following the end of war. He noted that a number of remand homes in the country are in a state of disrepair because districts local governments lack funds to maintain them.

Minister Kibuule noted that Naguru Remand Home which opened in 1954 has presently exceeded its holding capacity which was initially meant to accommodate 45 juvenile suspects.

He said, “The remand home was started in 1954 to cater for a small population. But today, there are 130 children which is a challenge to government and well-wishers of juvenile offenders.”

 Kibuule also announced a plan to relocate the remand home from Naguru to an area with a wider space in order to provide juvenile offenders with skills and where they can engage in agriculture production and acquire skills.

 “In Naguru, we have high numbers because of surrounding urban areas. We need to do something as Ugandans and well-wishers. There is a plan to shift Naguru to a better place and engage offenders in profitable activities such as farming,” said Kibuule.

Mary Kyomugisha, the in-charge of Naguru Remand Home said that presently, the centre has 130 children, 12 of whom are girls. Also, 85 of the juveniles are on capital offences, with 40 of them on petty offences.

 Dr. Amooti Katebalirwe, the acting chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission said that remand homes in the country are a result of parents failing to honour their duties of looking after their children.

 Kristian Schmidt, the EU Head of Delegation to Uganda noted that conditions of remand homes and prisons in Uganda are below international standards and need to provide better care and rehabilitation.

 Various human rights defenders’s organizations donated an assortment of items that included blankets, mattresses, paint, slippers, and buckets to Naguru Remand Home.