The Commissioner General of Prisons Service, Johnson Byabashaija has banned the transportation of prisoners for labor by use of private vehicles.
This follows a fatal accident that happened last week which left four prisoners and a prison officer dead in Fort portal.
Byabashaija said while appearing before the defense committee of Parliament on Tuesday that he regretted the loss of lives, which he said was a result of the violation of guidelines of transporting prisoners for Labor.
“The transportation of Prisoners, we have really done it wrongly and I must apologize; prisoners for labour must be transported in vehicles which are licensed to do that,” Byabashaija said.
“These include; OTV, Private motor-omni bus, PSV; those are vehicles licensed to transport workers and human beings apart from our own vehicles,” Byabashaija emphasized.
“I have now banned anybody transporting prisoners in a private vehicle that is not licensed and I will take appropriate action against any person who violates this including my officers.”
“You cannot avoid accidents but safety first, our mission is safety, security and humane first of all; safety was compromised and I apologize for that but I will not allow it to happen again.”