Otafiire wants Luzira prison, Butabika hospital relocated.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire has recommended that Uganda's biggest and oldest prison needs to be relocated from Luzira, Port Bell to a more spacious location,

The proposal to relocate Luzira prison was first mooted by Uganda Prisons Service spokesperson Frank Baine in 2013 when he was quoted in the media to have said Luzira prison was suitable for exchange with a completely new and bigger prison located away from the main business environment of Kampala.

Appearing before the parliamentary committee on Human Rights, Otafiire, said it would be ideal to modernise the facility which was constructed in 1920s by the British to create more room for extracurricular activities.

“The prison is now in the middle of the city, it’s been surrounded on all fours, if resources were available, I would propose that we relocate the prison and upgrade it to more than what it is currently,” he said.

Pertaining to a new prison location, the minister suggested it is moved to a locality that is more convenient to the institutions that are concerned with the prisons like the courts of law. In his opinion, Luzira prison has served its due purpose.

Otafiire argued that relocating to a much bigger facility would accommodate the rising number of prisoners in the country. The prison was built for approximately 600-800 prisoners but is currently holding close to 10,000 prisoners. Uganda has the sixth most crowded jails in the world according to the World Prison Brief published by Forbes in January this year.