Prisoners with mental disabilities in Uganda have petitioned Court over their continued stay in detention awaiting a Ministerial order in regard to their respective punishments.
The group led by Bishop Luwalira’s attacker – Hebert Solomon Kaddu contend that their indefinite incarceration without periodic reviews and yet not serving any sentence is unfair and discriminatory.
Kaddu together with the Network of Public Interest Lawyers (NETPIL) say over 17 inmates in different prisons across the country do not deserve to be in jail but rather in a mental hospital or with their families for rehabilitation.
The Lawyers led by Chandia Emmanuel and Godwin Toko Abunia have filed the case this morning before the Kampala High Court Civil Division and want orders that since the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has not exercised his powers in line with the Criminal Lunatics since 1997 all inmates with mental disability should immediately and unconditionally be released and integrated into their respective communities.
The Attorney General, against whom the case has been filed is yet to be served in order to file a response.
Kaddu who was clad in a sack cloth and armed with a stick is remembered for his role in interrupting the 1st April, 2018 Easter Sunday Service at Namirembe Cathedral in Kampala, when he attacked Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira and Rev. Canon Benon Kityo who were leading the day’s prayers.
He was arrested, prosecuted and found guilty of threatening violence and disturbing religious assemblies but he is upto today confined as a criminal lunatic in Luzira prison.
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