Prisons wants 2500 convicts pardoned

The Prison’s Service has submitted names of 2,500 prisoners for presidential pardon, the Spokesperson Frank Baine has said.
The prerogative of mercy committee chaired by the Attorney General will scrutinize and there after forward the names to the President for pardon.

Article 121 of the Constitution allows the President to exercise his powers through the prerogative of mercy to release prisoners.

Uganda Prisons Service is mandated to compile a list of prisoners from various detention centres who qualify for the presidential pardon. The department then submits the names to the Attorney General’s office for approval annually.

A number of inmates have benefited from the presidential pardon. They include late Milton Obote’s former security minister Chris Rwakasisi and the former Governor of the Central Province during Idi Amin’s regime, Abdullah Nassur and Indian National Sharma Kooky who was convicted of murder of her wife Renu Joshi among others.