Museveni pardons 130 prisoners on health and humanitarian grounds

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has granted a pardon to 160 minor offenders serving sentences across various prison facilities in Uganda. Among the pardoned prisoners, only one is a woman, adding a notable detail to the presidential clemency.

A statement from Uganda Prisons Spokesperson, SCP Frank Baine, highlighted that the pardon was granted under Article 121 of the Constitution on both public health and humanitarian grounds.

“H.E the President has granted pardon to a total of One Hundred and Sixty Convicted minor offenders. The pardon was granted on public health and humanitarian grounds,” the statement read.

All 130 pardoned prisoners have since been released from custody.

The individuals pardoned were convicted of a range of minor offenses, including arson, housebreaking, theft, causing grievous harm, unlawful possession of wildlife species, store breaking, possession of opium, obtaining goods and money by false pretense, malicious damage to property, possession of narcotics, vehicle robbery, conspiracy to defraud, and electricity theft.

The President’s decision brings relief to the families of those pardoned, many of whom had been convicted of non-violent crimes and had served significant portions of their sentences.