Kirinya Prison Overcrowded by Nearly 2,000 Inmates, Far Exceeding Capacity

Kirinya Prison in Jinja City is facing a critical overcrowding crisis, with the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) reporting nearly 2,000 inmates in a facility designed to hold only 397. This massive disparity, nearly five times the prison’s capacity, significantly impacts the well-being of inmates and strains the justice system.

According to Farouk Nyende, the Busoga region human rights officer, the congestion violates United Nations standards on prisoners’ rights. He attributed the worsening situation partly to delays in court processes, noting that some inmates have allegedly been awaiting appeal hearings for a decade. Suspects arrested during the Covid-19 lockdown are also reportedly still on remand.

In response to the overcrowding, the Kiira Regional CIID officer in charge, Daniel Batte, stated that police are implementing pre-arrest investigations to reduce unnecessary detentions. Efforts include granting police bond where appropriate and promptly presenting suspects with completed case files to court. The police are also encouraging reconciliation for minor disputes as an alternative to court convictions.

The UHRC Acting Chairperson, Lamex Omalla, urged all stakeholders, including police, courts, civil society, and the media, to actively promote and respect human rights. He emphasized the commission’s reliance on partners for information and its commitment to monitoring violations.

This severe overcrowding at Kirinya Prison highlights the urgent need for reforms in case handling, the exploration of alternative sentencing, and the acceleration of court processes to reduce the number of individuals held on remand. The situation falls far short of Uganda’s constitutional guarantees and international standards for humane detention.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda): https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/-kirinya-prison-holds-1-900-inmates-in-facility-built-for-397-5486866