COVID-19: Government to Pardon over 2000 Inmates to Decongest Prisons

The Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons Johnson Byabashaija has unveiled plans to decongest prisons as the country battles the spread of COVID-19.

While speaking to media at parliament on Monday, Byabashaija said that they are planning to pardon about 2000 inmates who are on light sentences and those who are the third quarter of their sentences. Others to be considered for pardon include; breast feeding mothers, the aged above 65 years. According to Byabashaija, the list will be submitted to the Attorney General for consideration.

Byabashaija was speaking after appearing before the parliamentary committee on appointments for vetting following the renewal of his contract as Commissioner General of Prisons.

“We are going to submit the list to the Attorney General for consideration of pardon in order to decongest the prisons. Secondly, we are also writing to the registrar of courts of judicature to release remands who have reached their remand mandatory period. This is not for capital offenders,” Byabashaija said.

He said that their main effort is to see that coronavirus does not enter the prisons. In the unfortunate circumstance that the virus penetrates prisons, Byabashaija says that they have put isolation prisons around the country where new prisoners can be held for the moment whereas all staff of the prison are not allowed to go back to the barracks and are currently camped at prisons.

Byabashaija has been at the helm of Uganda Prisons for the last 15years and his contract was recently renewed for another 3years.