The Officer in Charge of Prisons in Wakiso District, SP Ben Moses Kuboi, has criticized human rights defenders and members of the public for what he described as their “selective concern” for human rights, saying they only speak out when civilians are affected but keep silent when security officers suffer abuse.
Speaking during a human rights stakeholders’ engagement held at Wakiso District headquarters to mark Human Rights Day, Kuboi said officers who work hard to protect inmates’ rights are often left without support when their own rights are violated.
“We try our best to respect the rights of inmates, but when our own rights are abused, nobody comes out to defend us,” Kuboi said.
“Recently, an inmate killed a prison officer, but none of the human rights groups spoke out for the officer. It is as if the lives of security personnel do not matter.”
In his update, Kuboi said conditions in Wakiso prisons have improved in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and processing of cases.
However, he raised alarm over severe congestion, revealing that Wakiso facilities currently house more than 78,000 inmates, with cells designed for one person now holding four.
“The overcrowding is overwhelming. A cell meant for one inmate now keeps four because of the huge numbers,” he noted.
Kuboi also pointed to the suspension of the General Court Martial as another cause for the growing backlog, leaving over 41,000 inmates on remand without trial.
“Those with security-related charges have nowhere to be tried, and this has worsened congestion. Something must be done,” he added.
The meeting brought together civil society organisations, security agencies, lawyers, district leaders, and the Wakiso District Human Rights Committee chaired by Elly Kasirye. Among the attendees was District Chairperson Dr. Matiya Lwanga Bwanika, who also voiced concerns about the state of human rights in Uganda.
District Chairperson Dr. Bwanika used the platform to condemn the growing trend of human rights abuses by individuals within government structures.
“Most human rights violators are government officials. Some claim to be above the law and commit abuses with impunity,” Bwanika said.
“Our country is in a state of political confusion where leadership is driven by personal economic interests, and this has crushed people’s hope.”
Human rights defenders who attended the meeting including Shafiq Kajimu and representatives from Redeem International highlighted the plight of widows, orphans, and fishermen who they said continue to face serious and often unreported abuses.
Kajimu particularly expressed concern over violations against fishermen on national waters.
“Fishermen are suffering. Marine officers confiscate their gear to curb illegal fishing, but the same officers later engage in fishing themselves. These actions destroy people’s livelihoods,” he said.
Wakiso Human Rights Committee Chairperson Elly Kasirye reported findings from recent monitoring activities, pointing to congestion in prisons, acts of violence by security officers, and politically motivated brutality.
“Beating civilians and politically driven killings must be condemned by all,” Kasirye stressed.
The engagement ended with a call for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders to safeguard and advance human rights in Wakiso District and across the country.