Uganda Prisons Service leadership is currently engaging in talks with the Judiciary to allow them present high profile suspects before court with their handcuffs so as to prevent them from escaping.
The development was communicated by Dr Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner General of Prisons who argues that they cannot afford to continue losing high-profile suspects.
This follows a daring escape of two suspects--Musa Galiwango and Muhammad Kiddawalime--who fled from Masaka Chief Magistrate's courts where they had been taken for prosecution by the local prison warders. The incident happened early March, when the two took advantage of a security lapse at the court premises and escaped.
President Yoweri Museveni while officiating at celebrations to mark the International Women's Day in Mityana district last month, rebuked the prisons authorities for what he described as giving undue privileges and freedoms to dangerous prisoners to the extent that they can even have room to escape.
The President wondered why suspects answering grievous offenses such as murder, terrorism, aggravated rape among others are released from their handcuffs while appearing before courts for prosecution.
Dr Byabashaija confirms that prisons is now reviewing their guidelines to effect the president's preference of keeping the high profile suspects on handcuffs as a means of ensuring that they are safe and cannot escape.
The commissioner acknowledges that while their consideration is in violation of the laws of administration of justice and other international standards, they cannot afford losing more suspects.
According to Byabashaija, the approach will not universally be applied to all other suspects in court but strictly to those with high criminal profile records that are also on suspicions of running away.
He is currently in Masaka district coordinating a series of meetings with local security heads to review their strategies towards arresting the remaining fugitive who is still on the run. He revealed that they are already in talks with the judiciary to embrace the decision.
