Inmates at Uganda’s maximum prison in Luzira.

Members of Parliament  have thrown their weight behind the  privatization of   state prisons by  government saying this will enable prisoners enjoy their human rights fully without hindrances.

The legislators’ approval of the plan comes in the wake of a government proposal seek to privatize all  state prisons in order to improve on the welfare of inmates.

MPs while making there contributions during a mock debate with the students of selected schools around Kampala said the proposal will help government improve on the economy through better utilisation of the inmate’s labour.

Soroti municipality MP, Herbert Ariko ,Female national MP, Anna Adeke ,Kitgum municipality MP, Beatrice Anywar ,Western region youth MP, Mwine Mpaka all agreed that privatising the prisons was the best option that would better ensure that resources are used optimally.

The mock debate between MPs and students from the secondary schools, was organized by the National Debate Council in conjunction with the Parliament of Uganda, and was held in the Parliamentary Chambers.

Mpaka said privatizing prisons would free up much needed resources for other sectors like education and health.

Kitgum Municipality MP Beatrice Anywar.

Anywar said that considering that prisons are meant for rehabilitation, private players would be better positioned to take on the role. She also said that innocent children were being incarcerated together with their mothers.

Ariko said privately run prisons would better help inmates integrate into society at the end of their sentences.

Students however rejected the initiative, arguing that in doing so, government was running away from its mandate of keeping criminals out of the public eye in favour of profits. They disagreed with the proposal that prisoners need to enjoy the rights and luxuries that would be provided by private operators.

Students argued that fighting crime was so risky to be put in private hands and argued that government rather addresses the issues leading to increased crime in the country.

The students asked Government to address corruption in the system that has led to terrible conditions in prisons.

Mengo SS won the 7th National Schools Debate Championship and Mbarara High School become runners up.

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Minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng.

Members of parliament on the parliamentary committee of national economy expressed their displeasure last week to the minister of health, Jane Aceng, over what they said is a worsening provision of health materials and nursing care in most government hospitals across the country.

The committee chaired by the MP for Nakaseke North, Syda Bumba, was querying reasons outlined by Aceng, for members to approve a proposal by government to secure a loan worth USD110 million to support the reproductive, maternal and child health services in the country.

The MPs wondered why loans are secured for health sector but that there are no drugs in most health facilities across the country. Legislators why there is still only one doctor supposed to cater for many patients moreover on very low pay an issue that causes patients to lose hope in some hospital because they have poor service delivery.

MPs who included: Mbale Municipality MP, Jack Wamai Wamanga,Mukono South MP, Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga ,Soroti Municipality MP,Herbert Ariko, Gomba West MP, Kalule Ssengo and Kioga County MP,Anthony Okello, said that because of the government is  neglecting the provision of hospitals materials the burden is put on members of parliament .

Committee that is Chaired by the Nakaseke North MP, Syda Bumba.

MPs said that it has instead become their role to equip hospitals with beds and mattresses in order for them to reduce on the number of patients sleeping on floor while they are admitted in government health units.

“It is painful as a member of parliament to pay for these hospital materials when the people we represents pay taxes to government. Where does all this money go for government not to be able to deliver proper health services to its people,” wondered, Jack Wamanga Wamayi, the Mbale Municipality MP.

Herbert Ariko, the Soroti MP on the other hand wants the ministry to be in charge of managing the children births in health centres by giving hospitals children wards with beds to avoid the existing situation where 7 children are put on one bed after mother delivering.

“You visit a hospital and see a whole bed is crowded by mothers looking after their children before being discharged. As a ministry you need to find a way of providing beds for new born babies to avoid overcrowding that is currently experienced in many hospitals especially upcountry,” said Ariko.

Kioga County MP, Anthony Okello, also said priority for the ministry of health should focus on providing beds in the health centers in his area and that he is willing to cater for supply of mattresses.

Aceng, however, assured the legislators that once they approve the new loan from the World Bank, there will soon see improvements on health Centre III and IV to improve on maternal and child health services.

She said the ministry will put the money in good use putting into consideration all their concerns.

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