Frank Baine Mayanja, the Senior Commissioner of Prisons
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I President Yoweri Museveni’s move to pardon 130 convicts across various prisons in Uganda was based on humanitarian and public health grounds, authorities at Luzira Maximum Security prison have disclosed.
We have however learnt that the move had some political considerations, and that some supporters of the opposition party, National Unity Platform (NUP, were among those that were set free.
In a document issued by the Uganda Prison Service (UPS) on October 15 2024, the President’s decision is based on Article 121 of the Ugandan Constitution, which empowers him to grant pardons under specific circumstances.
Frank Baine Mayanja, the Senior Commissioner of Prisons, said all the above released prisoners had already been set free. “The pardon was granted on grounds of public health and humanitarian grounds,” reads part of the press statement.
According to a list seen by Habari Daily, theft and house breaking dominate the offenses which also include arson, possession of opium, assault and obtaining money by false pretense.
There has been an ongoing concern about prison congestion and public health challenges in Uganda prisons.
Attached is a list of some of the pardoned prisoners.
