Justice Institutions Move to Strengthen Health Rights for People in Custody

What the report says

Uganda’s justice sector has launched a new multi-agency effort to strengthen health and human rights protections for people moving through the criminal justice system, from police custody to prison and later reintegration into communities. According to Nile Post, the Criminal Justice Health Rights Committee held the first meeting of its kind in Kampala after being set up in March 2026.

The committee brings together senior officials from the Judiciary, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Uganda Police Force and Uganda Prisons Service, with participation from the Ministry of Health, Uganda AIDS Commission and the Global Fund. The meeting took place at Skyz Hotel and was framed as a step toward making health rights protections a regular part of justice institutions rather than a short-term project.

Principal Judge Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, speaking for Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija, said the group is meant to help address health rights concerns across the full justice chain, including for detainees, prisoners and staff working in the system. She said the committee will also oversee the Breaking Down Barriers initiative, which seeks to reduce gender and human rights barriers affecting access to health services, particularly around HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

The committee’s early work will focus on building a shared understanding of the initiative, clarifying responsibilities and setting up practical monitoring and integration measures. In broader context, efforts like this reflect wider concerns in justice and public health systems about access to care for people in detention and other vulnerable groups.