PRIMA

President Yoweri Museveni has pardoned 199 prisoners including the former PS public Service, Jimmy Rwamafwa who was arrested over funds embezzlement in 2016.

The prison's spokesperson, Frank Baine, explained that the list from which the 200 were pardoned was submitted in June 1800 prisoners who had completed 50% of their service, the elderly, suckling mothers and pregnant women who are pretty offenders and have finished more than a quarter of their sentence, among others.

He also welcomed the president’s move to pardon the 200, saying it will help decongest prisons.

Addressing journalists at police headquarters in Naguru, the prison's spokesperson, Frank Baine revealed that 200 prisoners were pardoned by President H.E Yoweri Kaguta, as he welcomed the action saying it will help decongest the prisons.

Among the 200 pardoned prisoners is former PS Public Service, Jimmy Rwamafwa who had been serving a seven-year jail sentence over embezzlement of funds in a pension scam.

Baine explained the criteria that were used to accord the presidential pardon to the prisoners.

According to the prison's spokesperson, a list of 1800 prisoners was submitted to the prerogative of mercy committee by prisons to seek pardon for the prisoners. It is apparent from Article 73 that the President may grant a free pardon or pardon subject to lawful conditions to order a respite or to substitute a less severe formal punishment or remit any part of the punishment.

Meanwhile, the manager of public relations at NIRA, Osborn Tushabe has called out the public and parents specifically to register their children for National ID acquisition during this holiday season.

Still, as a call to parents and the public at large, the police spokesperson, Fred Enanga has urged parents to be vigilant about the safety of their children and encourage open communication.