The Commissioner General of Prisons (CGP), Dr. Johnson Byabashaija, has issued a stern warning against torturing inmates by prison personnel.

Dr. Byabashaija, who is currently on a tour of prison facilities in mid-eastern Uganda, issued the warning while addressing the staff of Odina Prison Farm in Soroti district on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

He emphasized personal commitment to upholding ethical standards in the Uganda Prison Service, saying the culprits will face severe disciplinary action.

“Maintaining the highest levels of professionalism among staff during duty is a focal point in custodial service,” Dr. Byabashaija warned.

The prison boss further educated the officers on financial literacy and urged them to adhere to discipline as a key strategy to achieve individual growth. The tour extended beyond agriculture as CGP Byabashaija provided guidance on effective management and urged the officers to observe human rights, and the imperative of enhanced prison production and productivity.

Dr. Byabashaija highlighted the fundamentals of discipline, loyalty, and hard work as pillars of success within the service and also acknowledged the efforts of prison officers in corrections and production, underscoring their crucial role in UPS’ positive trajectory.

“The focus remains on providing safe, secure, and humane custodial services, fostering inmate transformation to become law-abiding citizens, and ensuring access to justice but not to torture them,” said Dr. Byabashaija.

On Wednesday, February 14th, the Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi led a delegation of legislators to tour and inspect Luzira Prison, which houses a number of facilities, including the Upper Prison, Murchison Bay, Kampala Remand, and the Women’s Prison, and later visited Kitalya.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently cautioned police, prisons, and the UPDF against torture and conducting illegal arrests.