Many have been sarcastically asking whether the Uganda Prisons Services will be releasing inmates since President Yoweri Museveni banned huge gatherings. The Prison service has instead suspended visits to inmates in all prisons around the country over the coronavirus pandemic for the next 30 days.
“Please be informed that following the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, stop all visits to prisoners. Also note that no visitors of staff are allowed in the barracks. Treat this message with utmost urgency and importance it deserves,” The directive by the Commissioner General of Prisons, Dr Johnson Byabashaija reads in part.
Byabashaija also directed that no prisoner should be taken out of prisons as it has been the norm when they go to work on various farms.
“No inmate shall be taken out for labour whatsoever. Any officer in charge who contravenes any details in this directive shall take full responsibility for his/her actions,” the message reads.
He urged regional Prison Commanders to implement the set directives without fail.
Early this week, President Museveni issued a number of guidelines in which he banned all social, political, cultural and any other form of gatherings as a way of preventing the spread of coronavirus.