21/11/2024
Frank Baine Mayanja, a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Kajjansi, holds the esteemed position of Senior Commissioner of Prisons.
With an extraordinary 36 years of dedicated service to his name, he has also served as the spokesperson for the Uganda Prisons Service for an impressive 16 years.
Frank is not only a skilled public speaker but also an accomplished author. Notably, he is the longest-serving spokesperson for any government agency, a testament to his unwavering commitment and exceptional professionalism.
While addressing the Rotary Club of Kampala Wandegeya yesterday, Rotarian Frank shared a series of striking insights into the current state of Uganda’s prison system. He disclosed that the country’s 200 prisons currently house a total of 78,691 inmates, overseen by a workforce of 14,000 wardens.
He further highlighted that a staggering 60% of the inmates are incarcerated on charges of defilement, with 90% of these individuals unable to afford bail.
In addition, Frank revealed that approximately 3,000 women are presently serving sentences in various correctional facilities.
Mr Baine also pointed out that the rate of recidivism stands at 14%, underscoring the significant challenges faced within the correctional system.
On a more reflective note, he mentioned that religious leaders and counsellors are allowed into the prisons, helping spark major spiritual turnarounds. This hits hard in the condemned section, where inmates dress up in white uniforms and are nicknamed White Angels by fellow prisoners.
Many of the inmates, after going through deep religious introspection, eventually turn to God as a source of hope and redemption, Frank said.
Adopted from:
The Amasiro Post
RC Kasubi
