President Museveni has suggested that courts of law should start hearing cases from prisons so as to cut costs of transport and also eliminate case backlog.
Museveni was responding to a complaint by the Commissioner General of Prisons Dr. Johson Byabashaija who said that over 50% of inmates in prisons around the country have not been convicted and are still on remand, yet they are not productive to the prisons.
“I request the criminal justice system to convict these people so they can help us in our work,” Dr. Byabashaija said, alluding to the fact that only convicts can be used productively by the prisons in farming and partaking in other works.
In response, President Museveni said the idea of using prisoners for productive work is good since they help the prisons reduce on money spent on them.
“I will discuss it with the judiciary and see if they can be tried from here,” Museveni said.
“A court should not be a building but any place gazzetted can serve as one. If they are tried from here, then money for fuel and vehicles can be saved.”
Museveni noted that families need to help government by advising their children to behave well so as to avoid being imprisoned f.
He was astonished by big number of youths in prisons all over the country whom he said have not been guided well by their families and the gender ministry on how to behave.
“It is bad and being misguided for youth to think they can make wealth through gambling. The family should be the first school to teach youths and children how to behave well.”
He however noted that prison not only eliminates criminals from circulation but also helps rehabilitate them to become good citizens .
Museveni said he would support all efforts by the prisons service to make inmates productive through agriculture and giving them skills useful to the country.
Dr.Byabashaija told the president that 77% of the inmates in the country’s prisons are youths ranging from 18 to 34 years of age yet this is the most productive group in society.
A total of 323 prisons officers were commissioned and passed out on Friday , 69 of these females.
The function was also attended by the Internal Affairs Minister Gen.Jeje Odongo,Deputy CDF Maj.Gen.Wilson Mbadi and AIGP Asan Kasingye among others.