He questioned how the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) could allow industries to operate in a manner that allegedly subjects prisoners and prison staff to continuous exposure to polluted air.
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Makerere University senior lecturer and human rights activist Dr Jimmy Spire Ssentongo has decried poor prison food, air pollution and the treatment of inmates following his first visit to Luzira Women’s Prison.
Ssentongo, who visited the facility to check on National Unity Platform (NUP) female inmates Doreen Kaija and Olivia Lutaaya, questioned why prisoners kneel when speaking to warders and why suspects awaiting trial are held under conditions similar to those of convicted inmates.
In an account of his visit, Ssentongo said he was particularly disturbed by the quality of food served to prisoners, questioning whether it was fit for human consumption.
“They say, like many others have said, that prison food is the worst ever—not even good enough for a pig,” he said.
According to Ssentongo, inmates who receive visitors have an opportunity to prepare their own meals, while those who rarely receive visitors or have none at all depend on the prison’s food.
He argued that although prison meals may not match the standard of food people enjoy at home, inmates still deserve decent and nutritious meals.
“Even if they cannot eat the food we eat at home, they should at least be given food that is fit for human consumption,” he argued.
Ssentongo also raised concerns about what he described as severe air pollution from factories located behind the prison. He said the pollution exposes inmates and prison officers to health risks, yet those confined within the facility have little or no opportunity to escape the polluted environment.
He questioned how the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) could allow industries to operate in a manner that allegedly subjects prisoners and prison staff to continuous exposure to polluted air.
The lecturer’s concerns highlight the vulnerability of inmates, who have limited control over their surroundings and depend on prison authorities and relevant government agencies to protect their health and welfare.
He called for greater attention to the environmental conditions around the prison, questioning whether the health risks associated with industrial emissions were being adequately addressed.
Remand prisoners
Ssentongo also questioned the practice of holding remand prisoners and convicted inmates under similar conditions, arguing that people awaiting trial should not be treated as though they have already been found guilty.
“Is remand also punishment? Is one assumed to be guilty until proven innocent?” he asked.
His remarks centred on the principle that suspects awaiting trial have not been convicted and should be treated in a manner that respects their legal status.
He further questioned the practice of prisoners kneeling when speaking to warders, asking whether such a show of submission was necessary in the administration of correctional facilities.
Although he expressed concern about the practice, Ssentongo acknowledged several positive aspects of the facility, including its cleanliness, the conduct of prison officers and efforts to provide healthcare.
He said the section he visited was clean and the inmates appeared well cared for. He also described the warders he encountered as friendly and professional.
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Kaija reportedly told him that the treatment of prisoners by warders had improved under the facility’s current officer in charge, whose name Ssentongo said he had forgotten to ask.
He also commended the prison’s healthcare services, noting that although they were not the best, there appeared to be efforts to care for inmates.
Church support
Ssentongo praised Pastor Grace Lubega of Phaneroo Ministries for the church’s support to the prison, saying inmates he spoke to appreciated the assistance.
According to the inmates, the church regularly donates items, including mattresses and food. Its visits are also eagerly anticipated because they bring happiness to prisoners, he said.
He called on more people and religious institutions to provide practical support to vulnerable groups, including people behind bars.
Ssentongo said his visit was limited to the women’s section because he did not have enough time to visit the men’s prison.
Reflecting on the emotional toll of incarceration, he said one of the most painful experiences for a prisoner was being imprisoned while believing oneself to be innocent.
His observation highlighted the distress detention can cause, particularly for people who believe they have been wrongly accused or detained.
The concerns he raised touch on broader questions about prison welfare, access to adequate food and healthcare, environmental protection, the dignity of inmates and the treatment of suspects awaiting trial.
They also point to the need for continued scrutiny of conditions in detention facilities to ensure that inmates’ basic needs and rights are respected, regardless of whether they are awaiting trial or serving sentences.