Critical evaluation of the implementation of the right to social rehabilitation in Uganda

Abstract

This study was an evaluation of the implementation of the right to social rehabilitation in Uganda. Specifically, conducted at Kauga State Prison in Mukono District. The study objectives were: to examine strategies put in place to implement the right to social rehabilitation, assess extent to which social rehabilitation programmes have been successful in reducing recidivism rates and to investigate the barriers to the implementation of social rehabilitation programmes in Kauga State Prison. A cross section research design was adopted. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches of data collection were utilized. Purposive and simple random approaches were used to select a sample of 120 respondents for the study. The sample included prison administrators, Prisoners and NGO officials. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics especially frequency and percentages, were used analyze quantitative data while Qualitative data was analyzed by thematic analysis. Findings show that provision of Adult and Remedial Education, Guidance and counseling, religious programmes and group work were common strategies in place to implement the right to social rehabilitation. Others were engaging prisoners in games and sports, agriculture and vocational training. Majority of these programs were fairly successful, despite a few challenges. The manpower shortage to implement programmes, financial shortfalls character and attitude of inmates, language barrier and limited time and land resources were the most noted challenges. All in all, it was concluded that despite the impediments, implementation of the social rehabilitation programmes had a strong positive impact on prisoners. An effort is needed towards its successful implementation. Hence, this study recommends an increase in funding from Ministry of Internal Affairs to Prisons Services be increased to enhance implementation of rehabilitation programmes, empower personnel and improve their salaries and allowances especially those with the role of implementing the right to rehabilitation of prisoners. The Prisons Services ought also to start up more rehabilitation programmes in prisons, and adopt a system where the products from the rehabilitation programmes earn proceeds that reward both the prisons facility and in-mates. The implementation of rehabilitation of ex-prisoners at community level, and a similar study on the implementation of the right to social rehabilitation in other prison facilities in Uganda, was suggested for further research.