The Uganda Prisons Service, in collaboration with Penal Reform International and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda, has launched a specialized training program for prison officers focused on gender-sensitive and human rights approaches to managing women in prison.
This five-day training, currently taking place at Belmont Hotel in Mbale, has brought together 20 prison officers from various stations in the Eastern Region, including those from women’s prisons, reception officers, social workers, and medical personnel.
Mr. Baker Asinjah, Commissioner of Prisons (Human Resource Planning and Development), who represented the Commissioner General of Prisons, highlighted the critical importance of safety measures in prisons. These measures include surveillance systems, security personnel, access control, inmate classification, emergency response plans, inmate searches, crisis interventions, medical and mental health services, staff training, intelligence gathering, and perimeter security fencing.
The training is designed to focus on the effective management of women prisoners using a human-rights-based approach and prioritizing their rehabilitation. It takes into consideration factors such as risk and needs assessment, custody levels, housing, gender-responsive programs, mental health support, substance abuse treatment, education, job training, family support, healthcare, trauma-informed care, and reintegration planning.
Currently, the Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) has 3,700 female inmates in custody across 19 prison units nationwide. The UPS is committed to providing specialized services and considerations that comply with international standards.
Women prisoners in Uganda receive tailored support within a safe, secure, and humane correctional environment. This support includes separate housing, gender-sensitive programs, vocational training, and access to healthcare and education.
The aim of the program is to enhance the skills of prison officers in managing different categories of female prisoners, ultimately promoting their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
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