The Commissioner General of Prisons Johnson Byabashaija has told Parliament that people held on remand can access their personal doctors and receive treatment at medical facilities outside prison where necessary.
Byabashaija said Uganda Prisons Service works with medical professionals to determine the appropriate treatment for inmates including those with existing medical conditions requiring specialised care.
He was responding to concerns raised by Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende over the treatment of remand prisoners who enter custody with illnesses or ongoing prescriptions.
The issue was raised before Parliament’s Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, chaired by MP Robinah Rwakoojo.
Byabashaija also said prisoners are not necessarily restricted to medical services available inside prison facilities.
According to the Commissioner General, prison authorities work with doctors to assess patients and determine the most appropriate form of treatment.
Where a prisoner requires care beyond what can be provided within the prison system, he said, they can be taken to a medical facility recommended by their doctors.
His comments are particularly relevant to people held on remand who may have been receiving treatment before their arrest or detention.
A person on remand is being held while court proceedings are ongoing and has not been convicted of the offence for which they are being detained.
Shamim Malende raised concerns about people entering prison with pre-existing medical conditions and prescribed treatment.
She questioned whether prisoners are always able to continue receiving the medication and specialist care recommended by their doctors after being placed in custody.
The concern is significant for people with conditions that require regular medication, monitoring or specialist appointments.
A disruption to treatment can have serious consequences particularly where a patient relies on medication that cannot easily be substituted or where a condition requires continuing supervision.
Byabashaija’s response was that prison authorities have mechanisms for assessing such cases and facilitating treatment where required.
The discussion also touches on a wider question about the treatment of people held in detention before trial.
Unlike convicted prisoners, remand suspects are awaiting the conclusion of their cases.
The principle of the presumption of innocence means that being charged with an offence does not amount to a finding of guilt.
The prison system is governed by the Prisons Act which places the administration and control of the Uganda Prisons Service under the Commissioner of Prisons subject to the relevant legal framework and ministerial direction.
The law and prison regulations therefore have to balance security requirements with the welfare and rights of people in custody.
Providing medical care in prisons can be complicated by overcrowding, shortages of medical personnel, medicines and specialist services.
For prison authorities, the challenge is to ensure that inmates can receive treatment while also maintaining security and controlling the movement of people in custody.
This can become particularly difficult when a patient needs treatment that is unavailable at a prison clinic.
Byabashaija’s comments suggest that, in such cases, the Uganda Prisons Service can facilitate referrals to outside facilities.
However, questions about how quickly such referrals are made, who pays for treatment and how continuity of medication is maintained remain important issues for parliamentary oversight.
The committee’s inquiry comes as Parliament continues to scrutinise the treatment of people held in Uganda’s prisons and detention facilities.
Malende’s concerns highlight the particular vulnerability of remand prisoners who may arrive in custody with medical conditions that require ongoing care.
The Commissioner General’s response provides an assurance that prisoners can be referred for treatment outside prison when medical professionals consider it necessary.
The parliamentary committee is expected to continue examining the concerns surrounding prison conditions and the treatment of detainees.
