Jailing children with adults worries UHRC

ARUA- Despite recent operationalisation of the regional remand home for juveniles in Arua District, the main government prison for adults has continued to admit child offenders.

The regional remand home which started operating two months ago now has 12 juvenile suspects out of the 70 detained in the main adult prison.

The inmates and commissioners from Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) are worried that the continued stay of juveniles together with adult offenders may jeopardise correctional efforts for the young criminals.

During a visit of the Uganda Human rights commissioners at the government prison in Arua this week, the chairman of the inmates human rights committee, Mr Richard Okumu, said the high number of juveniles among them was worrying.

“We have very many suspected juveniles here and every time they go to court, they are given very long adjournments while we also have elderly people who should really be considered, if possible, for release,” Okumu said.

The inmates also complained of lack of secondary education for those who have completed Primary Seven. They said they also lack proper equipment for carpentry works.
The UHRC commissioner, Mr Agaba Maguru, promised to follow up their grievances.

“We are going to liaise with the resident judge here to see that the elderly are given free bail but if their offences are of capital nature, it may be complicated. We are also going to examine those whom we suspect to be under the age of 18,” Agaba said.

A prison warder speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the press said the sanitation situation in the main prison barracks was pathetic.

“We are just living on God’s mercy but the entire population of more than 700 people depend on one latrine, the children defecate on verandas because inside is dirty.

We sympathise more with our women,” the officer said.
By the end of last month, the prison had 828 inmates contrary to the installed capacity of 120 in 1930s when it was built.

International treaties Uganda ratified

-United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
- African Charter on the Rights of the Child
-Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Pornography
-Optional Protocol on the Convention on the Rights of Child on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict
- ILO Convention on Minimum Age for Admission to Employment (ILO Convention No. 138)
- International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights
Source: savethechildren.se

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