Frank Baine, spokesperson for the Uganda Prisons Service, has emphasized that no deaths or critical cases have been recorded as a result of the recent outbreak of red eyes disease, also known as conjunctivitis, which hit the country in March.
Last month, the Ministry of Health, through its Director General of Health Services, confirmed the outbreak of conjunctivitis in Kampala district and prison facilities.
Baine stated that the Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) has recorded 5,905 cases of red eyes disease. Among these, 4,704 individuals have fully recovered, leaving 1,202 cases still active.
Affected prison units include Upper Prison, Murchison Bay, Kampala Remand, Luzira Women, Kasanda, Kagadi, Kamuli, Lira Women, Erute, Kigo Main, Lira Main, Gulu Main, Jinja Main, Mbarara Main, Isingiro, Butuntumula, Naakasongola, Ngoma, Kauga, Bamunanika, Sentema, Kiyunga, Ntenjeru, and Kitalya. Strict adherence to standard operating procedures remains in place to effectively manage the situation.
UPS also urges the public to avoid visiting prisons if unwell and to adhere to guidelines for all visitations at courts and stations.
Baine clarified that UPS is not currently conducting any staff recruitment exercises and warned against falling for scams promising employment within the service at different levels.
As of now, the Uganda Prisons Service has a staff strength of 14,247 stationed in 269 prison units across 19 administrative regions.
In custody, UPS houses 76,817 inmates, comprising 40,796 convicts, 35,456 remands, 565 debtors, and 258 children incarcerated with their mothers.
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