Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament, Asuman Basalirwa has urged government to consider releasing prisoners especially those who are about to finish their sentences.
During today’s Parliament sitting, Basalirwa said all prisons across the country are congested, a situation that makes every prisoner vulnerable in case they get just one positive patient of COVID-19.
“If COVID-19 attacks them in this situation, it will be a disaster,” Basalirwa said.
Lst month, Commissioner General of Prisons Dr Johnson Byabashaija said that no prisoner will go out of prison for labour, and visits were called off in fear that they may be exposed to the virus and spread it to other prisoners.
In the same sitting today, Kawempe North Member of Parliament Latif Ssebagala asked government to consider using mobile money services as a quick and accessible strategy of distributing the relief they promised.
However, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said that the proposal raised by Latif Ssebagala is good but there are lots challenges that come along with this mode of service. Kasaija said government has taken note and they will discuss it further.