Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda has one of the lowest numbers of people who are likely to return to jail after being released from prison, according to the Uganda Prisons Services (UPS).
“We have 20% of repeat offenders (recidivism); it is a very good rate. It is the best in Africa, and fourth best in the world,” Dr Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner General of UPS, said. This implies that in Uganda, out of every 100 inmates released, only 20 would be back in prison within a year.In Africa, according to the African Journal of Criminology and Justice, Uganda is followed by Zambia with 33%, Rwanda 36%, Kenya and Tanzania at 47%.In the world, US is the country with the worst crime record, with 90% recidivism rate.It was followed by South Africa, Germany and Asia tying at 74%, according to a recent survey.Netherlands tops the world as the place with the least criminals and plans to close its detention facilities are underway because of the very low crime rate there.Byabashaija said Uganda’s low recidivism owes to Uganda’s rehabilitation programmes that put a lot of emphasis on imparting life skills in its inmates.Some of the life skills include carpentry, hairdressing and metal work among others.Some prisoners are also given the chance to go up the ladder through primary and secondary education, which makes them eligible for university and tertiary education in later life.”We have found out that most of those who go through education never offend again. We will continue with life skills we give our prisoners,” he said.Criminals are sent to prisons to protect society from harm. However, if there is nothing done to address the root cause of criminal behaviour, prisoners may return to communities with the same or worse behaviour criminals are sent to prisons to protect society from harm.
