Luzira – The Acting Principal Judge, Lady Justice Okuo Jane Kajuga, led a high-level delegation of justice and human rights stakeholders on an official visit to the Condemned Section of Luzira Upper Prison.
The delegation visit held on Thursday 31st July 2025, comprised of representatives from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), the Uganda Police Force, Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF), and Penal Reform International (PRI).
The visit, supported by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), was part of ongoing efforts to assess conditions in the facility and strengthen collaboration among institutions working to address delayed justice and prison overcrowding. They were received by Senior Superintendent of Prisons Bryan Corr Mbaziira, the Officer-in-Charge of Upper Maximum Security Prison, which currently houses 3,246 inmates and three lodgers, including 93 inmates on death row, 91 men and two women.
During the visit, inmates presented a petition highlighting concerns such as missing case files, delayed judgments, and the psychological toll of prolonged incarceration on death row. Lady Justice Kajuga acknowledged these issues and reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to reducing case backlog through initiatives such as the Daily Hearings project, the Justice for Her initiative, plea bargaining, and Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR)
She encouraged inmates who admit their offences to consider plea bargaining as a path to more lenient sentences and called on legal aid providers to increase their support in filing applications for mandatory bail for capital offenders.
Addressing the issue of the death penalty, Lady Justice Kajuga noted that while it remains part of Uganda’s laws, it is also a matter of national moral and social debate that requires collective discussion.
Other stakeholders echoed their support for reform. Mr George William Byansi, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, pledged to streamline prosecution processes to reduce prison congestion. Mr Bernd Brünner, Managing Director of ADC and Dr. Katja Yvonne Kerschhaumer assured of continued Austrian support for justice reforms, while Ms Mariam Wangadya, Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, commended the Uganda Prisons Service and called for a review of the condemned section, including its name, to reflect evolving human rights standards.
The visit concluded with a guided tour of the Section, where stakeholders interacted directly with inmates. Inmates described the visit as a blessing and welcomed the renewed dialogue, expressing hope for urgent action on their concerns.
