Comments for Good deeds in Uganda prisons come at a price at http://www.independent.co.ug , comment 1 to 7 out of 7 comments http://www.independent.co.ug Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:12:50 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.independent.co.ug/features/features/2453-good-deeds-in-uganda-prisons-come-at-a-price#comment-24958 His concept of paying with much needed resources like food, clothing, soap etc makes much more sense and is no doubt truly appreciated by the prisoners - who, as Rev Amos said, HAVE to do manual labour anyways - so why not make it towards something that will benefit them directly rather then something that will make the authorities richer?! Sorry Rubin, but you really need to understand things better before you write about them! - Vicky Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:27:46 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/features/features/2453-good-deeds-in-uganda-prisons-come-at-a-price#comment-24957 I agree with Lindsey on this one - the suggestion of paying prisoners is ridiculous - does the author honestly think that such people have either a safe place to put their earnings or a bank account to save it in?! Of course not, if given in cash, it would more than likely be stolen, simple as that. If given to the authorities to 'look after' until thus prisoner is released would mean it would be even more likely to 'go missing'. Unfortunately, things work differently in such countries. Alexander McLean shouldn't be penalised for being realistic and knowing how things really are in Uganda! (continued in next comment box...) - Vicky Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:24:38 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/features/features/2453-good-deeds-in-uganda-prisons-come-at-a-price#comment-24418 This article was obviously written by an individual who knows nothing about how the Ugandan system works. Pay Prisoners?! Are you in a dream world?! Let me see it go past the starving wardens and the rest of the Prisons Workers who are paid peanuts by government. The prisoners probably have better health conditions than their prison supervisors! However dubious the writer may think McLean, his organization is doing work that our government is not ashamed to not bother with at all! I found the passage about the "dapper moustache and pinstriped suit" amusing. It is obvious the writer intended to potray Mclean in a less than favourable light... - Lindsey Kukunda Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:34:22 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/features/features/2453-good-deeds-in-uganda-prisons-come-at-a-price#comment-24159 In view of over-crowding in our prisons, the cost of maintaining a prisoner in terms of housing, feeding, and medical care, and the social problems (for family) that imprisonment creates, some of us have been recommending community service as punishment for less serious crimes. This group of people could then expend their energies on projects such as this one. It seems however that this idea has not yet received serious consideration from the legislature. May be NGO's like APP should influence the powers that be to consider this. Diana Opio's argument about human rights being a western construct is self-serving and clearly begs the question whether those working for the community should not be remunerated. - Rev Amos Kasibante Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:08:27 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/features/features/2453-good-deeds-in-uganda-prisons-come-at-a-price#comment-24158 Have read the article and comments. In my opinion, this a legitimate article and I do not detect any axe to grind on the part of the author. One thing that readers must realise, though, is that it is long established tradition for prisoners in Uganda to do manual labour. In the past - don't know whether same practice obtains - they might do work for a private citizen who would in turn pay a sum of money to the prison. Some of the work done by prisoners was geared to training e.g. carpentry and was meant to give prisoners practical skills they could put to use after leaving prison. About the concerns Rubin raises, there is a positive way out, given the cash strapped prison service. See next para - Rev Amos Kasibante Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:58:26 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/features/features/2453-good-deeds-in-uganda-prisons-come-at-a-price#comment-24103 Its in the interest on m7 and his fetish govt to improve the conditions in Ugandans prisons ,because Luzira might be the next ''State House'' for many of them to meet at plan for the ''future'' - Major Adam Kifaliso Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:57:44 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/features/features/2453-good-deeds-in-uganda-prisons-come-at-a-price#comment-24079 It sounds like the writer has a vendetta against APP and its founder Alexander McLean. Perhaps to magnify the allegations further, the same single accusation is repeated again and again so many times until one feels they are accidentally re-reading previous paragraphs. True, the treatment of prisoners in Uganda is totally below international standards and often abusive with prisoners doing labor on prison farms, roads etc. without compensation, and the conditions of their care shocking to outsiders. The question is why is the author pouring all the blame and scorn on APP and McClean who are trying to help, instead of Uganda Prisons and the Uganda government who have failed to respect prisoners' rights and in maintaining basic health and living conditions all these years??? - Mabuc Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:02:33 +0100