State minister for Planning Amos Lugoloobi has shared that his detention at Kira Division Police headquarters and his remand to Luzira prison were a major highlight of the appalling state of the facilities.

During a thanksgiving ceremony held at his home in Namulanda Village in Kayunga Sub-county, Kayunga District at the weekend, Lugoloobi said God planned that as minister for Planning, he had to be arrested and subsequently remanded to Luzira prison so that he could witness the bad situation in jail and work towards improving prisoners’ lives.

This was Lugoloobi’s first public appearance in Kayunga District after court granted him bail on Thursday last week.

The Minister spent three days at Kira Police Division headquarters and in Luzira prison after his arrest in connection with the mismanagement of iron sheets meant for the Karachunas in Karamoja Sub-region.

Human rights activists and a section of Ugandans have previously decried the poor state of prisons in the country and called on the government to intervene.

Some of the poor conditions mentioned include poor accommodation, hygiene and feeding.  Prison authorities, however, blame the bad state on underfunding by the government.