According to Mitooma District Chairperson Benon Karyeija, the district chairpersons agreed to construct the remand home in Kiyanga Sub County in Mitooma district. The land measures 5 acres.
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Bushenyi High Court Resident Judge Hon Justice Amos Kwizera and Dr Livingstone Ssewayana pose for a photo with Prison Service Officers from Greater Bushenyi
Districts in the Ankole region have agreed to allocate land for the
construction of a remand home.
The
districts that include Mbarara district and City, Ntungamo, Kazo,
Kiruhura, Buhweju Sheema, Ibanda, Rubirizi, Mitooma, Rwampara, and Isingiro use
the remand homes in Kabale and Fort Portal.
According to
Mitooma District Chairperson Benon Karyeija, the district chairpersons agreed
to construct the remand home in Kiyanga Sub County in Mitooma district. The land measures 5 acres.
He said that since the districts lack funds to facilitate the construction of the home, they will hand over the land to either the Ministry of
Justice and Constitutional Affairs or the Ministry of Local Government for
construction.
According to
a 2023 report Behind the Scenes by the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative
(FHRI) in greater Bushenyi, 107 Juvenile cases were registered at
Police, and over 60 Juveniles were locked up with adults both in Police cells
and Prisons.
Faith
Asiimwe Betega, the Probation and Social Welfare Officer in Bushenyi district
says that access to justice by juveniles in Ankole is faced with several challenges
that call for government intervention.
She says
that the offices of the probation at district local government are less
facilitated in following up on community services
for juveniles and integrating juveniles into the
community after serving their sentences
She says
that the biggest challenge faced by both the police and probation offices is transporting juveniles to remand homes in Kabale and Fort Portal.
Consolata Kasule the Sheema District Police Commander wants the judiciary to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolutions and Alternative Punishments but also give
priority to Juvenile cases.
The Resident Judge Bushenyi High Court Justice Amos Kwizera said that the
judiciary is working hard to get justice closer to the people. He emphasized that
having a remand home in the region will promote and protect the human rights of
minors.
Dr Livingstone
Ssewanyana, the Executive Director Foundation for Human Rights Initiative asked
the stakeholders like the police, and probation officers to involve the clergy
and clan leaders in settling petty crimes involving juveniles.
According to the Judiciary
Annual Performance Report for the financial year 2022/2023, the absence of Remand Homes in most districts in the country has led to
delays in the disposal of Juvenile cases.
