The Uganda Prisons Service (UPS), in partnership with the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), has successfully concluded a three-day training program aimed at enhancing the management of sex offenders within the prison system.
The training brought together prison officers and social workers from various units, focusing on practical skills designed to improve the management, rehabilitation, and successful
reintegration of offenders into society.
At the closing ceremony, Xavier Francis Elubu, Assistant Commissioner of Prisons and Regional Prisons Commander for Kampala Extra Region, expressed gratitude to the Commissioner General of Prisons for fostering an open-door policy that encourages partnerships and capacity building within the Service. He also extended his appreciation to IDLO for organizing and facilitating the training.
Elubu urged participants to apply the knowledge gained in their daily work, emphasizing a professional and responsible approach in managing offenders.
“Proper implementation of the program is critical to ensuring a real impact within prison units,” he said.
Program Manager at IDLO, Frida Joyce Apio, explained that the training equipped prison officers with critical competencies in offender profiling, risk assessment, therapeutic engagement, and community reintegration. Apiyo noted that these skills are essential in addressing the complex nature of sex offenders and reducing the likelihood of reoffending.
The training addresses a pressing need within the prison system, as sex offenders require structured management, careful assessment, and targeted rehabilitation to modify behavioral patterns and protect communities.
The program is expected to enhance the capacity of prison officers to handle such cases with professionalism, improve rehabilitation outcomes, and contribute to safer communities upon offenders’ release.
