A heated plenary session in Parliament today saw lawmakers and government ministers clash over the inhumane conditions in Uganda’s prisons with a spotlight on the continued use of the “bucket system.”
Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi boldly questioned what it would cost the government to end the degrading practice while State Minister for Internal Affairs Hon. David Muhoozi admitted that simply building more prisons is no solution to the growing crisis.
This comes at a time Uganda’s prison population has exploded, leaving facilities overcrowded, under-resourced and in many cases, operating with outdated sanitation methods that activists say violate basic human dignity.
“What does it take in terms of budget allocation to ensure that there is no longer a bucket system in every prison?” Kivumbi challenged on the parliamentary floor.
His question echoed the frustration of many MPs and human rights groups who have repeatedly condemned the ‘bucket latrine’ method where inmates are forced to use plastic buckets in shared spaces due to lack of proper toilets.
In response, Minister Muhoozi didn’t defend the system but called for radical change;
“We can’t keep throwing concrete at the problem. More prisons won’t solve the case backlog or restore justice. We must innovate.”
The comment marked a turning point in the day’s discussions, as attention shifted from physical infrastructure to systemic reforms.
Muhoozi urged lawmakers to consider alternative sentencing, digitization of court processes and investment in community rehabilitation programs as more effective ways to tackle Uganda’s overloaded justice pipeline.
Uganda continues to build new prisons but inmates remain crammed, underserved and in some cases, legally forgotten due to delays in their trials.
Meanwhile, Hon. Martin Mapenduzi Ojara, chair of the Committee on Public Service & Local Government, presented the ministerial policy statements for the sector a routine but crucial procedure that determines where public money goes.
With growing pressure on government transparency, lawmakers and citizens are demanding that prison reforms be prioritized in the upcoming national budget.
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