Prisons puzzled by increasing inmate numbers amid declining crime rates

Summary:

• Despite a decrease in reported crime rates in Uganda, prison populations are rising, prompting concern among authorities.

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Uganda’s prison authorities have expressed concern about the increasing number of inmates despite a decline in the crime rate. According to the latest annual police report released last week, crime decreased by 1.5% from 231,653 cases in 2022 to 228,074 cases in 2023.

Speaking at a high-level reflection meeting on crime trends organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) at Kampala’s Golf Course Hotel, Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons, Samuel Akena, highlighted the discrepancy between reduced crime rates and rising prison populations. He noted that while reported crimes had decreased, the number of inmates admitted to prisons continued to rise, with a 13.8% increase in prisoners admitted directly from court.

As of Monday, prisons nationwide held 76,626 prisoners, including 40,568 convicts and 32,555 individuals on remand, with an additional 503 classified as judgment debtors. This surge has pushed the occupancy rate to 365%, meaning that four individuals occupy space meant for one person.

Akena clarified that the increase in prison populations does not necessarily contradict the police report on reduced crime rates. He explained that multiple suspects could be charged in a single criminal case, leading to an increase in prison admissions despite a decrease in reported crimes.

Sharon Lesa Nyambe, the head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Uganda, emphasized the need to scrutinize the underlying factors behind crime statistics, attributing rising theft cases to socioeconomic challenges and organized crime syndicates.

Justice Michael Elubu from the Judiciary’s Criminal Division stressed the need to interpret crime statistics in terms of resource allocation and case management, highlighting the strain on judicial resources posed by a large caseload.

The Inspector General of Police, represented by AIGP James Ochaya, called for increased resources and capacity-building within the Criminal Investigations Division to address challenges such as poor records management and high detective case loads.