The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has raised concerns after discovering more than 40 refugee inmates facing defilement charges during an inspection of Mbarara Main Government Prison and Mbarara Women’s Government Prison. The inspection was conducted by UHRC Commissioners together with officials from the Commission’s Mbarara Regional Office as part of ongoing regional stakeholder engagements.
During their interaction with inmates, the refugees told the Commission that some of them had been falsely accused by parents of girls who allegedly wanted to secure asylum opportunities for their children abroad. The inmates asked the UHRC to investigate the circumstances surrounding their cases and help address the complaints they had raised.Commissioner Hon. Lamex Omara Apitta, who led the engagement on behalf of UHRC Chairperson Hon. Mariam Wangadya, reminded the inmates that being in prison does not take away their basic human rights.
He also asked whether the prison had a human rights committee representing both inmates and prison management.“Human rights committees are important because they remind us that we are human beings. Our role is to ensure that your human rights are not violated, that you have food, that you rest and that you are properly dressed,” Apitta told the inmates, adding that every case must be handled according to the law and determined by court.The UHRC team assured the inmates that their concerns would be taken up with relevant stakeholders within the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS).
During the visit, Commissioners Hon. Col. Steven Basaliza and Hon. Simeo Muwanga Nsubuga also shared prison food with inmates, including posho and beans, before joining them in an ekitagururo dance as they appreciated the inmates’ entertainment and hospitality.The Mbarara inspection followed an earlier UHRC visit to Ndorwa Central Government Prison, where the Commission found an initiative through which inmates are knitting sweaters to help them cope with cold weather. Prison management reported that about 1,700 sweaters had already been completed and were awaiting commissioning.
The sweaters have not yet become part of the official prison uniform because prison management is waiting for regulations to be changed to permit inmates to wear them. Beyond providing protection against the cold, the initiative is also giving inmates practical skills that can benefit them during and after their time in prison.
The regional engagement was supported by Commissioners Hon. Shifrah Lukwago, Hon. Crispin Kaheru, Hon. Simeo Muwanga Nsubuga, Hon. Steven Basaliza and Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru, alongside Director of Regional Services Ms. Sarah Nakhumitsa. The Commission said the visits are intended to strengthen cooperation with regional JLOS institutions and human rights defenders while allowing UHRC to directly identify and respond to human rights concerns affecting inmates and communities.
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