The Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons Service (UPS), Dr. Johnson Byabashaija, has revealed that a total of 1,577 staff housing units have been built.
According to Byabashaija, the construction works kicked off in FY2020/2021, adding that they are also constructing more prison wards to improve staff accommodation, human resource capacity, and prison holding facilities.
Byabashaija made the remarks during the commissioning and pass-out ceremony of the Prisons Junior Command and Staff Course at the Prisons Academy and Training School on Sunday, September 22nd, 2024.
He said the staff housing has increased from 31.8% to 48.9% and the prisoners’ wards, with some already completed and others expected to be finished by January 2025.
Currently, 582 staff houses are under construction at various locations, including Luzira, Muinaina, and Amita, Ruimi, Masaka, Hoima, Ngogwe, Lukaya, Ssaza, Mityana, Lira, Kitalya Farm, Ragem, Ibuga, Kibaale, Kijjumba, Isimba, Sentema, Kitalya Mini Max, Luzira, Kyenjojo, Kaweeri, Mityana Main, Lwabenge, Kaiti, Erute, Nebbi, Kagadi, Magala, Kigandalo, Mitoma, Kyazanga, and Busesa.
“We have enhanced the capacity of 3,442 prison officers through specialized training courses in the last three years,” he added.
A joint infrastructure project with the Uganda Police Force and Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control under the Ministry of Internal Affairs is also underway and expected to provide 69,000 staff housing units, with 15,000 allocated to UPS staff.