By Joseph Tweheyo
apearlnews.com
The foundation for the human rights initiative in Bushenyi District is set for community engagement advocating for reconciliation to de-congest the prisons.
Speaking to stakeholders today during the round table meeting held at the Meridian Hotel in Bushenyi Town, Recheal Busingye of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative and Bushenyi Legal Aid noted that due to poor mindsets, communities don’t prefer reconciliation.
Busingye said that as a foundation for human rights initiatives, they want to engage local councils and empower them to always aim at conflict mediation, following the leadership of their respective communities, to solve the problems affecting their respective communities.
She added that when one is taken to prison or in cells without being mediated, when they return, most of the time they pretend to take revenge.
Faith Amanya Betenga, the Bushenyi district gender officer, however, expressed concern over the increase in juveniles in criminal cases, which has become a challenge to authorities.
She also attributed the challenges to domestic violence and parental negligence, calling upon parents to do their role and Chairpersons of LCS to report whoever is neglecting his or her role to look after their children to authorities.
Nyamushekyera government prison is now full beyond its capacity. It was designed to accommodate 300 inmates, but now it has over 1500 inmates. The women’s ward was designed to accommodate 50 inmates, but now it has over 176, according to Officer in charge of prisoner Evans Abiyo.
