Two female prison wardens are protesting the declaration of maverick lawyer Male Mabirizi as the chairperson in charge of welfare in C4 ward in Luzira Murchison Bay prison.
Four months back, Mabirizi won a hotly contested election after defeating two opponents who were supported by two influential female Baganda prisons wardens.
After being declared winner, the two female wardens petition the prisons leadership challenging Mabirizi’s victory claiming that he was going to disorganize the management of the prison and likely use the same position to incite inmates against the prison’s authority.
Mabirizi was summoned to defend himself and he received overwhelming support from other prison bosses led by a one Kangabe.
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He told them that the said female wardens were protesting his victory because he has evidence against them participating in corruption and bribery practices.
He testified that the two ladies receive bribes from freshers after promising them bed spaces at the High Command where inmates with money and influence sleep on top of other incentives in prison.
“These officers did not know that in protesting Mabirizi’s victory, they were opening a can of worms because everyone was aware of their vices of getting bribes from freshers. When Mabirizi promised inmates that he was going to force those ladies to account for the money they collected fraudulently from them, they voted for him,” a source told Ono Bwino.
Ono Bwino understands that the money collected from freshers is supposed to run the day to day work in the said ward like buying soap which is used to clean the ward and toilet, pay for television service, buy razor blades for inmates to shave and cut their hair and other necessities.
“We have people in our wards who cannot manage to get even basic necessities, leave alone food and porridge which the prison provides for them. So, the money freshers pay is used to clear such necessities,” a source said.
Prison sources revealed to Ono Bwino that the process to subject the two ladies to investigation kicked off and they were directed to file their defense because the accusation against them violates the prison’s code of conduct.
Ono Bwino understands that the ladies have reached out to former Kampala Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago who is also incarcerated to talk to Mabirizi not to appear before the disciplinary committee when the authorities decide to start the trial against them.
“Lukwago has already talked to Mabirizi and pleaded with him not to sacrifice fellow Baganda and assured him that they have abandoned the fight to force him out of the chairperson position,” a source told Ono Bwino.
Mabirizi is now the one responsible for the wellbeing of the inmates in C-4 and his assignments include making sure that the inmates are sleeping well, making sure that the ward is clean, reporting sick inmates to the authorities so as to receive treatment among others.
