UHRC: 600 inmates squeezed into Moroto Prison built for 160

What the report says

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) says Moroto Government Prison is holding more than 600 inmates in a facility built for 160, with nearly 600 people sharing only three toilets. The commission described the situation as severely overcrowded and said it raises risks to prisoners’ health, dignity and access to justice. The findings came during a Monday inspection of Moroto prison and other detention facilities in the Karamoja sub-region by a UHRC team led by chairperson Mariam Fauzat Wangadya.

According to the report, the male wing is especially congested, with prisoners sleeping in very tight conditions and using inadequate sanitation facilities. The delegation also heard complaints from inmates about long remand periods, slow case handling and limited access to legal representation. Some detainees facing court martial proceedings said they lacked the bail options available in civilian courts, while others alleged delays linked to missing files and stalled prosecutions.

The UHRC said at least 150 inmates were facing the court martial, with aggravated murder among the common charges. The commission also encountered a 19-year-old who had been arrested at 16 and remained detained. Wangadya said the issues were worsened by outdated prison infrastructure and population growth, and she called for new prison capacity, expanded facilities and greater use of alternatives such as community service, fines and plea bargaining for suitable cases.

The delegation also raised concern about the living conditions of 22 mothers held with their children inside the prison, as well as housing for junior prison officers.