Prison chiefs from several African countries are meeting in the Ugandan capital Kampala to discuss strategies aimed at reducing congestion in prisons and availing enough food to inmates.The biennial conference is organized by the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA) in conjunction with the Uganda Prisons service.Bringing together over twenty six Chiefs of Prisons in Africa, the conference is running under the theme, “Enhancing community – responsive correctional service delivery in Africa.The Commissioner General of Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS), Maj. Gen. Paul Rwarakabije, underscored the need for inmates to intensify efforts in ensuring adequate food production to supplement the meagre resources usually provided by African governments. “In Rwanda, congestion in prisons is reducing drastically due to the construction of prisons and the rehabilitation process we have embarked on,” he said.The Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons, Dr. Johnson Byabashaija, attributed the congestion in prisons to a net reduction in resources in Africa that doesn’t match the increasing population.He said should emphasize accommodating inmates that only appear to be dangerous to society.“Prisons should not be seen as places that inflict pain on inmates, but correctional centres that rehabilitate offenders,” he said.The weeklong conference is also addressing other challenges like overcoming the spread of HIV/AIDS in prisons, faster dispensing of justice and adherence to international norms and standards in correctional services.
