The Commission General of the Uganda Prisons Service, Dr. Johnson Byabashaija has revealed that the number of the prisoners awaiting hanging in the country is about 500.

Speaking to the journalists in Kampala, Byabashaiza said the prisons department has written to the Minister of Justice to consider releasing some of the inmates under the presidential prerogative mercy but this has not yet been fulfilled.

Dr. Byabashiza dismissed claims that prisoners are mistreated. He has also directed the prisons officials to desist from the practice of getting free labour from the prisoners saying nobody should work for nothing.

Dr. Byabashaiza has described a recommendation by the Human Rights Watch body asking inmates to have access to their wives as unconstitutional. He said in Uganda inmates have no conjugal rights.

Dr. Byabashaiza also ruled out the possibility of supplying condoms to prisoners saying gay practice is disallowed in Uganda.

Dr. Byabashaiza says the high population of inmates is a big challenge to prisons across the country.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias