The Parliamentary Defence and Internal Affairs Committee has called for the establishment of a bigger and modern training academy for the Uganda Prisons Service, citing severe staffing gaps and the growing number of inmates.
The call was made by committee chairperson Robina Gureme Rakojo during the committee's inspection of the proposed site for a new Uganda Prisons Service academy at Chitahya.
Rakojo said the committee's visit followed a recent assessment of Luzira Prison, where the Prisons Service highlighted challenges related to manpower and limited training capacity.
She said the committee is constitutionally mandated to monitor the performance of government agencies, examine policy matters and assess institutional development.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
"The service shared with us the current manpower status, highlighting the severe staffing gaps in light of the increasing number of inmates, as well as the capacity challenges of the current Prison Academy and Training School," Rakojo said.
She said the existing training facilities are unable to adequately meet the needs of the growing prison service, making the proposed academy at Chitahya a critical investment.
"Establishing a modern, expansive training facility here is a critical advancement towards establishment of a more effective prison service," she said.
Rakojo said the new facility would help address staffing shortages while equipping prison officers with skills to manage the increasingly complex nature of offenders.
The committee also toured Chitahya Minimum Security Prison to assess its classification, operational systems and specialised infrastructure.
The lawmakers further inspected prison industries, where inmates are engaged in production activities.
Rakojo urged the Uganda Prisons Service to expand its industrial capacity and produce furniture, garments and leather products for supply to government institutions, local governments and the private sector.
She said this would support the Government's policy of import substitution and the Buy Uganda initiative, while also providing inmates with skills that can support their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
"I urge the prison service to increase its capacity to produce high-quality furniture, garments and leather products to supply our MDAs, local governments and the private sector, while simultaneously serving as a cornerstone for inmate rehabilitation," Rakojo said.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
She urged members of the committee to use the inspection to scrutinise the operations of the Prisons Service and identify areas requiring government intervention.
"We are here as partners in strengthening our correctional system, but also as carrying out our constitutional mandate. I urge you to engage deeply and ask probing questions during our tour," she said.
The committee is expected to use findings from the inspection to inform its oversight of the Uganda Prisons Service and make recommendations on staffing, training infrastructure and prison rehabilitation programmes.
