Single Cells for male and female suspects shock officials

Prisoners being led to Court in Nebbi

It has emerged that male and female suspects at the Chief Magistrates Court in Nebbi share the same detention cell.

This was revealed during a district coordinating committee meeting held recently. The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Nebbi Modesta Bessy Ajilong, ordered for the immediate redesign of the cells.

She noted that much as the inmates are culprits, they must be treated like any other ordinary human being.

Meanwhile, the Chief Magistrate Geneva Natukunda, has warned local council leaders to desist from engaging in land disputes because they are beyond their jurisdiction but also their term of office expired long ago.

Natukunda revealed this in a training session for LC IIIs, Sub- county chiefs, and LC1s chairpersons last week in Nebbi. She noted that their term of office has since expired in 2006 and that their legality as chairpersons is void under the law.

She advised that the work of the LCs currently is to mediate and refer sensitive cases to the relevant legal authority,

Grade II Magistrate Michael Okonye also highlighted the challenge faced by juveniles in remand homes as a result of manipulation of their age that leads to their conviction. He said that the minor offenses should require community service work acts instead of  increasing the crowding in remand homes.

The Regional Police Commander (RPC), Jonathan Musinguzi, called for cooperation and team spirit among the committee members in order to work for the common good of the community.

The District Coordinating Committee is a forum for RDCs, RPC, and Magistrates, DPC and is chaired by the Chief Magistrate. The main aim for the committee is to visit institutions like prisons and Police cells in order to monitor performance of offenders and report to the National Committee on progress and failures of the programmes.

In another development, the international Initiative for Community Development (INCODE), has launched Agulu Mwa Women Savings and Credit Co-operative Society (SACCO) for the women in Nebbi, It is a self help group under the initiative of community development for women and the youth in the district.

According to Ajilong the SACCO’s main objective is to improve the living conditions of members through maximizing savings increase access to credit services while providing quality financial services.

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