• EDITORIAL POLICY
  • ABOUT US
PML Daily
  • Home
  • NEWS
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Regional
    • Africa
    • World
  • INVESTIGATIONS
    • National Archives
    • Special Reports
  • OpEd
  • BUSINESS
    • Agriculture
    • Tech
    • Finance
  • FEATURES
    • Health
    • Tours & Travel
    • Entertainment
    • Society
  • COLUMNISTS
    • The Suited Penguin
  • SPORT
  • Jobs
  • Magazines
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NEWS
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Regional
    • Africa
    • World
  • INVESTIGATIONS
    • National Archives
    • Special Reports
  • OpEd
  • BUSINESS
    • Agriculture
    • Tech
    • Finance
  • FEATURES
    • Health
    • Tours & Travel
    • Entertainment
    • Society
  • COLUMNISTS
    • The Suited Penguin
  • SPORT
  • Jobs
  • Magazines
No Result
View All Result
PML Daily
No Result
View All Result
suubula suubula suubula
Home NEWS

COVID-19: Human Rights Activists want prisoners released 

CONRAD AHABWE | PML Daily Senior Correspondent by CONRAD AHABWE | PML Daily Senior Correspondent
March 28, 2020
in NEWS
0 0
53
SHARES
364
VIEWS
FacebookWhatsAppTwitter
Some prisoners in the cell (PHOTO/File).

KAMPALA – A group of Human Rights activists has called for the release of some prisoners and improvement of medical services in prisons across the country, in order to control the spread of Coronovirus within the detention facilities.

In a joint statement issued by Advocats Sans Frontie`res, Chapter Four, Legal Aid Service Providers Network, Muslim Centre for Justice and Law and National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, the team argued that the threat of spread of COVID19 and low staffing levels within Uganda’s Prisons and congestion is likely to cause tension among inmates, who might end up staging fatal riots.

The activists argued that although Uganda Prisons Services has halted visits to prisoners from members of the public, so as to protect inmates from Coronovirus exposure, this does not in anyway address the issue of crowding within the Prisons.

As of September 2018, the occupancy rate within Uganda Prisons stood at 315.4%

“The signatories to this statement are concerned that official government statements and actions, including the practice direction issued by the Judiciary, have committed to address the issue that prisons and suspects in police cells are the high-risk environment for transmission,” read in part the statement.

The activists argued that there is need by Government to bear in mind that since the staff-prisoner-ratio is estimated at one staff to seven prisoners, as the situation escalates and restrictive measures are imposed, there is a high risk that this will cause tensions and instability in prisons across the country.

The activists noted, “Prisoners will learn of the risks. With the tensions and threats, the low staff-prisoner-ratio will put a severe strain on the management on prisons as prison officers will face unprecedented challenges.”

The cited examples in Columbia and Italy where riots erupted in prisons which resulted in several deaths, amidst fears that the virus would spread and health services would be unable to cope in overcrowded spaces.

The team, therefore, called for steps to cut back the prison’s population in order to respect detainees’ human rights and ensure their access to adequate healthcare.

Among the proposals include release of detainees nearing end of their sentence, detainees charged with petty crimes, as well as those in the age group at the risk or with pre-existing health conditions and whose detention is no longer justified.

Release unlawfully detained prisoners including those detained beyond 48 hours and those who have clicked mandatory bail.

In dialogue with judicial and administrative actors, take steps to suspend use of pre-trial detention of police custody as well as release without bail, detainees prosecuted for minor offences that are punishable by setences of less than two years imprisonment.

In consultation with competent judicial authorities, grant conditional release to convicted prisoners who comply with procedural conditions.

Implement alternatives for prisoners to contact their relatives such as communication at a distance, behind a glass or by video conferencing.

Tighten the monitoring of the sterilisation of the Prisons Units and increase the capacity for diagnosis and medical monitoring within prisons as requested by WHO.

The letter was written and copied to Chief Justice- Bart Katureebe, Director of Public Prosecution, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs- Ephraim Kamuntu, Commissioner General of Prisons- Johnson Byabashaija and Inspector General of Police- Martin Ochola.

The development comes at the time the Ministry of Health just announced 5 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed bringing the total to 23 cases in Uganda.

The Ministry of Health stated that out of 227 samples run yesterday at Uganda Virus Institute, 222 samples tested negative for COVID-19.

Comments

Tags: Chief Justice Bart KaturebecoronavirusHuman rights activiststop

Related Posts

The following stages that have been operating along streets around Shoprite, Shell and Gapco fuel stations but ply Ggaba road shall move to the Old taxi Park to replace those that have been relocated to Usafi Park:
NEWS

Taxi drivers concerned over delayed works on Old Taxi Park

February 28, 2021
64
The first group of refugees from Ethiopia’s Tigray region are welcomed by UNHCR staff at the Tunaydbah refugee camp, Sudan (PHOTO/Courtesy).
World

Ethiopia Deputy PM promises to undertake investigation into alleged human rights abuses in restive region

February 28, 2021
59
Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 7, 2020, shows the live stream of U.S. Democratic nominee Joe Biden delivering a speech in Wilmington, Delaware (PHOTO/Xinhua).
World

Biden revokes Trump-era visa ban affecting green card applicants

February 28, 2021
98
Lawyer Bob Kasango has died (PHOTO/File)
NEWS

Lawyer Bob Kasango dies from Luzira Prison

February 27, 2021
578
L-R, Mr Charles Angebault the Co-founder and C.E.O Metajua, Dr. Okaka Geofrey Owich, the Assistant Commissioner URA and Malisa Nyakwera, the Head of the Head of Agri-Business at Stanbic Bank (PHOTO/Courtesy).
BUSINESS

Ugandan farmers, SMEs tipped on how to utilize Africa free trade zone

February 27, 2021
200
Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria is a  Commissioner at UHRC (PHOTO/Courtesy).
OpEd

DR. PATRICIA ACHAN OKIRIA: Children’s rights and the digital sphere in Uganda

February 27, 2021
110

Advertisement






 

 

About

The PML Daily, published via www.pmldaily.com is a publication of Post Media Ltd, a professional Digital/New Media company in Uganda.

Follow us

KIU

  • EDITORIAL POLICY
  • ABOUT US

© 2020 PMLDAILY.COM

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NEWS
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Regional
    • Africa
    • World
  • INVESTIGATIONS
    • National Archives
    • Special Reports
  • OpEd
  • BUSINESS
    • Agriculture
    • Tech
    • Finance
  • FEATURES
    • Health
    • Tours & Travel
    • Entertainment
    • Society
  • COLUMNISTS
    • The Suited Penguin
  • SPORT
  • Jobs
  • Magazines

© 2020 PMLDAILY.COM

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In