Govt asked to engage ex-convicts in crime fight

The Chairman of the International Prison Champlain Association Morris Mukasa and Champlain Uganda Prison service Claudio Ssewava addressing a press conference at  St. Joseph and St. Bruno a Church at Upper Prison Luzira  Kampala 31 March 2017.Photo by Wilfred Sanya  

Mukasa says ex-convicts should be engaged in the mitigation of the prisoners before they are allowed to join the communities.

He made the call on Friday at Luzira Upper Prison, during a press conference at St Bruno & St. Joseph Church.

Mukasa said Government should make use of the partnership and engage ex-convicts in combating crime, as they address the current problems affecting communities.

"The cross cultural partnership is aimed at training and sharing of experience between Uganda and Government Law enforcement officers. This includes engaging prison officers on the model of community policing, crime prevention and shared testimonies to obtain a crime free society," Mukasa said.

Section 90 of the Uganda Prison Act 2006, emphasizes Social Care and After Care of ex-convicts. This implies that the authorities should keep tabs on ex-convicts.

Mukasa lamented that this is not being implemented. He cited the experience of former convicts Chris Rwakasisi and Abdallah Nasuru, who have served 20 and 22 years respectively.

Mukasa said such people would be of vital importance in reducing crime, if they are given opportunity to advise community.

Quoting Commissioner General for Prisons Johnson Byabashaija, he said "Any prisoner officer in the prisons without faith must be in a wrong place. One must be with a spirit of doing his work".

Chaplain Rev. Father Mathias Yawe noted that not all prisoners are guilty. He said that prisoners and convicts should be given rehabilitation.

 "We have challenges when are praying for prisoners and you tell them that God is good all the time using a religious saying. This does not work if you are not giving them anything in return. These prisoners need physical support and comfort. In prison you are denied certain rights in life," Yawe said.

The Chaplain Uganda Prison Service Claudio Ssewava, said for one to carry out community service one has to apply for as policy. Many people cause congestion in prisons because of a lot of time spent on investigation to allow them appear in courts. Prisoners should be kept in prisons closers to their homes so that the relatives visit them.

"Government should review laws and also involve ex- convicts to come up with laws which are suitable for prisoners. The designated ratio of Prisons officers to prisoners is 1:4. But today, it stands at 1:9," Ssewava said.

He remarked that carrying a Bible and Koran to prisoners is not enough without something tangible to help their needs.

There over 300 non-governmental organisations but you may only find very few with trained people to serve in the prisons. The churches should look a resource mobilization should to support the inmates.

Ssewava proposed a body to reconcile the ex-convicts so that they would be allowed to give their testimonies, to enable people learn from experiences.