Uganda: Government (Gov’t) to introduce parole and non-custodial sentences

Government is drafting parole rules that will see eligible prisoners serve part of their sentences outside prison as one of the measures to reduce overcrowding.

The Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Robinah Nabbanja told Parliament that the proposed parole rules are being considered by the First Parliamentary Counsel, the office responsible for drafting and reviewing legislations.

“The Uganda Prisons Service is finalising the Parole Rules and Regulations, currently before the First Parliamentary Counsel to govern the safe release of eligible inmates,” said Nabbanja during the weekly Prime Minister’s time on Thursday, 03 September 2026.

Under the parole arrangement, the beneficiaries remain under supervision and may be required to report to a parole officer, maintain good conduct and participate in rehabilitation programmes. A prisoner who breaches the conditions may be returned to custody.

The Prime Minister was responding to Kampala District Woman MP, Hon. Shamim Malende who raised concern over extreme overcrowding and prolonged detention of suspects on remand.

Malende said delays in the judicial system are causing suspects to remain in prison longer than the sentences they would ordinarily receive if convicted.

“We have people who should serve six months but end up spending three years on remand because their cases are not heard in time,” Malende said.

Nabbanja added that the Prisons Service is working with Justice, Law and Order stakeholders to expand non-custodial sentences where punishments are served outside prison including community service. These are applied to offenders whose detention may not be necessary.

She stated that video conferencing systems have been installed in 21 prisons across the country.
Nabbanja named Luzira Upper Prison, Arua, Mbarara, Lira, Soroti, Fort Portal and Kabale Districts as some of the detention areas that  allow prisoners to appear before judicial officers through video links without being transported to court.

“There is also a programme to expand prisons infrastructure with construction ongoing at several prisons including Sembabule, Lwengo, Kabula, Buwama, Paidha, Nakasongola, Ndorwa, Murchison Bay, Arua, Kitgum, Rakai and Mutukula, she said adding that, ’in the 2026/2027 financial year, government plans to construct 37 prison wards in Mityana, Mbarara and Kibaale Districts’. 
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

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