Incarcerated Members of Parliament Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya have protested a ban on visitors to Kigo Prison where they have been for the last five months.
The duo appeared before the Masaka Grade One Magistrate Christine Nantege via video conference this afternoon to receive updates on the progress of investigations into charges of murder and terrorism that were levied against them.
The legislators argue that the directive which was issued by the Commissioner-General of Prisons is leading to serious violations of their inherent human rights.
They further told the court that the ban on visitors which was issued under the guise of preventing the spread of COVID-19 to the prisons has instead become a tool of torture and violation of rights for a few targeted inmates.
Makindye West MP Ssewanyana explained that a ban on visitors is not uniformly observed to all inmates, hence not being in a position to eliminate risks of COVID-19 spread in the prison.
He reported to the magistrate that on a daily basis, over 200 inmates leave Kigo Prison to work in the community and return in the evening, but to their disappointment, the prison authorities are still using the same directive to deny them access to visitors including lawyers, private doctors, and close relatives.
He added that besides enduring degrading treatment that includes being forced to sit in the mud every morning, they are also completely detached from their families, something that is psychologically distressing them.
Meanwhile, Kawampe North legislator Muhammad Ssegirinya told the magistrate that the ban has also attracted rage from fellow inmates who are now perceiving them as the cause of their suffering.
He added that his children have not returned to school because he has nobody to give instructions for paying their fees.
They appealed to the court to compel the prison authorities to lift the restrictions.
Their lawyer Shamim Malende told the court that she has equally been denied access to the prisons facility, which is frustrating efforts to prepare defence documents that required her to first interview the suspects about the charges preferred against them.
She expressed concern that if not reconsidered, besides causing emotional distress to the accused persons, the restrictions will also frustrate their pursuit for justice.
Masaka Resident Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka said that he has taken note of the concerns and pledged to engage prison authorities before he can authoritatively brief the court during the next sitting.
However, in her ruling, the magistrate instructed the Prisons authorities to relax the restrictions and allow the suspects to access visitors, under the observance of the known COVID-19 standard operating procedures.
The matter was adjourned to February 22.
