Uganda’s prisons are operating far beyond capacity, with every cell holding an average of four inmates, according to officials from Uganda Prisons Services. The overcrowding crisis, described as “the biggest challenge” by Deputy Commissioner General Samuel Akena, sees the nation’s 23,104 available spaces crammed with 80,110 inmates. This translates to an occupancy rate of 345%.
“Out of the 80,110 prisoners, 42,340 are convicts and 37,074 are on remand,” Akena told Parliament. “The 56,916 additional inmates really should not be there in terms of space, but there is nothing we can do; they are there.”
Long periods on remand are a major driver of the overcrowding, with Uganda’s prison population growing at roughly 7% per year. By 2030, the number of inmates is projected to reach 111,822, nearly doubling current numbers.
Addressing the issue will require significant investment. Samuel Emigu, Undersecretary of Uganda Prisons Services, informed MPs that UGX75.099 billion will be needed to construct 50 prison wards, three local security prisons, and regional minimax facilities. “This is urgent for proper planning and management of congestion,” Emigu said, highlighting the strain on resources and the prison system’s ability to function effectively.
Without intervention, the country faces a stark reality: cells designed for one are housing four, and the human and financial cost of inaction is mounting rapidly.
