She says the continued detention of Dr. Besigye raises serious questions about Uganda’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, key tenets of shared Commonwealth Charter and values.
According to the Press statement released by Frank Baine Mayanja the Spokesperson of Uganda Prison Service, the Commissioner General of Prisons has ordered the Service to be on Standby Class One from 16th December to 18th January,2025.
When granted an opportunity to address the court about his plights, Ssegirinya complained that he is locked up in solitary confinement and not allowed to practice his faith through prayers.
The facility was closed last week to allow fumigation and treatment of the affected inmates and staff. According to the Resident District Commissioner of Soroti, Patrick Okumu, the decision was taken to allow the COVID-19 team and management of prison to streamline on some issues he declined to mention.
Frank Baine, the Uganda Prison Spokesman says the new changes are expected to provide safety measures in the management of prisoners in Moroto. He notes that the changes were communicated by the Commissioner-General of Prisons during his visit to the facility.
The prison commander, who was speaking angrily with the journalists who were pleading for the return of their gadgets and National identity cards, said it was illegal for them to interview any person within and around the Uganda prison premises.
Dr Byabashaija, who is in Moroto on an inspection duty following the escape of 219 prisoners on Wednesday says he will reward anyone who recovers a gun with 1.5 million Shillings and each person who surrenders a prisoner will be paid 500,000.
“The guy is very arrogant. When inmates come with complaints or any issues that need his attention, he slaps them and has been belittling Karimojong as ‘warriors’ whom he describes as backward and useless. Because he doesn’t understand the language, he is always suspicious of everything spoken especially when officers, who know some bit of Ngakarimojong talk with prisoners. On the day of the attack, his office was the first target but he was not around”, another source said.
A section of the community now lives in fear especially about the firearms that are in the wrong hands. Dinah Ayo, a resident in Moroto town says the loose firearms could be used by the escapees to perpetuate more crime, not only in Moroto but anywhere in the country.
Only a staff deployed as data clerk at the prisons regional office was in the office this morning while the rest of the team was locked up at Moroto Prison premises. Since Thursday, access to Moroto Prisons has been restricted, with tight security comprising four officers manning the main gate at day time. This is different from the other ordinary days where one person would be seen at the gate.
Nicholas Ogwang the Commission’s Regional Human Rights Officer in Gulu disclosed to URN that the children of imprisoned mothers are highly vulnerable group with appalling rights and welfare.
