Namutumba Prison inmates, staff test negative for COVID19
The 199 inmates and 24 staff of Kaiti Prison in Namutumba district, who had been quarantined after an inmate tested positive to COVID -19, have all tested negative.
By Betty Amamukirori
The 199 inmates and 24 staff of Kaiti Prison in Namutumba district, who had been quarantined after an inmate tested positive to COVID -19, have all tested negative.
The facility, according to Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine, has been declared COVID -19 free and relatives
of the inmates can visit. Baine made the revelation while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre
in Kampala.
The prison closed its doors to the public and 223 people were put in quarantine early this month after an inmate
tested positive. At the time of the test, the prisoner was in isolation.
He also revealed that courts have started handling prisoners' files, mostly petty offenders and those who broke the guidelines on COVID -19 prevention, in a move to decongest cells.
Baine said by Tuesday, about 200 prisoners had been set free by the courts, adding that he hopes in the next two weeks the process will be complete.
"However, we have started receiving disturbing reports that those pardoned by the President have started terrorising villages," he said.
Raid on Kotido Prison Baine also revealed that over the weekend, Karimojong warriors attacked Kotido Prison with th aim of raiding the armory, but were repulsed with no casualties.
Illegal education centres Baine further revealed that security bodies are going to clamp down on illegal education centres being set up by some teachers in connivance with the parents.
Uganda as of today has 805 cases of COVID -19 while 717 have recovered. The majority of the cases are still truck drivers.
The spokesman of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Jacob Siminyu, said on Tuesday alone, 1,683 truck drivers entered the country while 1,669 left. On the same day, 197 Turks were repatriated aboard Turkish Airlines.
Siminyu said they have received information from DR Congo that some of the Ugandans who have completed their prison sentences want to return home. He said the request has been forwarded to the foreign affairs ministry.