The leader of the Luzira female prisoners welcomes the Netherlands ambassador, Joroen Verheul (left), as

By Andante Okanya

WOMEN inmates at Luzira Prison have asked to be granted the right to have sex with their husbands within the prison walls. This, they argued, would help in the rehabilitation of prisoners.

The demand was made yesterday at the Luzira Prison women’s wing during a ceremony to mark International Human Rights Day.

The plea was delivered by the women’s choir in a song ‘Rehabilitation in Prison’, saying it was their inalienable right. The women’s wing has 306 prisoners.

Notable among the inmates was Lydia Draru, the woman who last month confessed killing former army commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini.

However, Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner General of Prisons, said such privileges cannot be granted under the prevailing situation.

He said the Uganda Prisons Service has far more pressing issues to deal with, like improving the welfare of the prisoners.

“We are not in a position to even talk about conjugal rights now. We have to get you enough room, together with the basics. After that, we will talk about these rights,” Byabashaija said.

When contacted to give a legal opinion, lawyer Isaac Afuna said every married prisoner has a right to have sex with their spouse.

“Currently, people have not pushed for it. But a married prisoner has a right to enjoy conjugal rights,” Afuna said.

Several countries have provisions allowing prisoners conjugal rights. These include the US, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, France, Denmark, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

The ceremony was jointly organised by the Uganda Human Rights Network, and the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

Guests included the Netherlands ambassador to Uganda, Joroen Verheul, Joseph Etima, the acting chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, and members of civil society organisations.

The visit to Luzira was intended to show solidarity with women prisoners and raise awareness on human rights concerns.