Uganda Prisons Service has assured MPs that remand prisoners, including high-profile detainees, have the right to access their own doctors and specialised medical treatment outside prison facilities.
Commissioner General of Prisons Johnson Byabashaija told MPs that prisoners who need specialised care beyond what prison clinics can provide can be taken to hospitals and doctors of their choice.
“If you are a remanded inmate, you have got the right to access your personal physician. We can even take you to facilities of your choice,” Byabashaija said.
He made the remarks while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on Thursday, August 6, 2026, following concerns about the health of detained opposition figures, including Dr Kizza Besigye and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
The assurance came after MPs questioned whether inmates with serious medical conditions were receiving adequate care while behind bars.
Kampala District Woman MP Shamim Malende raised concerns that some prisoners enter custody while on specialised medication but later rely only on prison medical services.
She asked whether inmates could access their personal doctors without having to seek fresh court orders.
Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu also questioned the handling of medical reports relating to Lukwago, saying reports from health facilities had raised concerns about his condition.
But Byabashaija said the prison service follows medical advice and ensures inmates receive appropriate treatment.
“If we cannot handle your condition, the doctors determine where you should be referred. We can take you to Mulago or any other appropriate health facility,” he said.
12 YEARS WAITING FOR TRIAL
The Commissioner General also sounded the alarm over prison congestion, blaming delays in the justice system for keeping inmates behind bars for years without trial.
He revealed that one inmate has spent 12 years on remand waiting for his case to be heard.
“When somebody is committed to the High Court for trial, the DPP has already examined the file and decided the case should proceed. Nothing happens after that. We have to wait for the court to call the person,” he said.
Byabashaija urged authorities to expand the use of non-custodial measures, saying prison space should mainly be reserved for dangerous offenders.
“We should not have people charged with small land matters in prison. Prison should be reserved for people who are a danger to the security of the population,” he said.
The prison boss also disclosed that Uganda Prisons Service has created a special ward for mentally ill inmates and receives support from Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital.
He said plans are underway to establish a specialised mental health facility for prisoners at Butabika.
Meanwhile, Byabashaija said plans to relocate Luzira Maximum Security Prison have not progressed beyond the proposal stage because government has not yet secured an investor to implement the project.
