The Commissioner General of the Uganda Prisons Service, Mr. Johnson Byabashaija, expressed his concerns about the increasing number of female inmates in the country. He revealed that in the past decade, the number of female inmates has risen by 125%, going from 1,591 in 2013 to the current count of 3,585 inmates.
Out of the 3,585 female inmates, approximately 39% face charges related to murder, while 15% are charged with offenses like housebreaking, theft, child trafficking, and assault. Around 3% face charges of aggravated robbery, with the remaining inmates facing various other charges. Additionally, two are condemned inmates, and about ten are serving life imprisonment sentences, while the rest are on remand.
Mr. Byabashaija made these remarks during the commencement of a three-day regional conference in Kampala, focusing on the rights of affected women in the criminal justice system. The conference is themed “Unlocking barriers: Rights of women in the criminal justice systems in Africa.”
Mr. Byabashaija expressed concern about prison overcrowding, which he believes has led to a rise in diseases like Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B among inmates. He emphasized that the prison policy dictates that all female inmates should have beds, even though they may not fully adhere to this policy. He stressed that, as mothers of the nation, female inmates should be treated differently and provided with adequate space for both themselves and their children.
In addition to the surge in female inmate numbers, Mr. Byabashaija also noted that there are 268 children incarcerated with their mothers. He suggested that the judiciary should consider these women as mothers of the nation and offer different considerations.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms. Jane Frances Abodo, attributed the rise in female inmates to factors such as poverty, increased cases of domestic violence, gender-based violence, and ignorance. She pointed out that many women incarcerated for murder were reacting to a history of suffering violence and abuse. Ms. Abodo stressed the need for sensitization to prevent such cases rather than solely dealing with their aftermath.
Mr. Simeo Nsubuga, a commissioner at the Uganda Human Rights Commission, raised concerns about human rights violations in some prisons. He pointed out that female inmates are entitled to beddings, which are not always provided in some facilities.
