President Museveni on Friday made his first visit to Luzira prison in a period of 38 years. Museveni who was the chief guest at the commissioning and passing out of prison officers expressed delight.
“I am happy to be here at Luzira for the first time as President of Uganda, “Museveni said. “This is a cool place with breezes better than even Nakasero.”
Dressed in military fatigue, the Commander in Chief of the armed forces arrived a few minutes after mid day and was welcomed by the Internal Affairs minister, Gen. Jeje Odongo, Deputy CDF MaJ . Gen Wilson Mbadi, Commissioner General of Prisons Dr. Johnson Byabashaija and AIGP Asan Kasingye who represented Gen.Kale Kayihura.
Speaking at the function, Museveni said he was happy a lot of things had changed since he last visited Luzira while still minister of defense in 1979.
Museveni arrives at Luzira on Friday.
“It is good you have bow transformed from being collection center to production center of products like cotton.”
The president said the prison does not only help to keep criminals out of circulation but also rehabilitates them.
He pledged support to the Commissioner general of prisons in his efforts to ensure productivity of the inmates through production of goods.
Started in 1907, the upper Luzira prison got its first inmates in 1928.
The government’s biggest prison was first situated at Entebbe before being transferred to Nakasero and later to Mpanga (present day Luzira).
The last sitting president to visit Luzira prison was Sir. Edward Muteesa in 1962.
Currently, Uganda has over 51000 inmates with 77% of these being youths.
According to Dr.Byabashaija,there are 611 convicts of corruption whereas the number of inmates on death sentence are 170 and are awaiting the guilton.
The inmate in Uganda serving the longest punishment is on 99 year sentence and is expected to leave prison on September ,3 2079 if he is of good behavior but the release time can extend to 2112 if he behaves badly according to the Commissioner General of Prisons.