PLANS TO TRANSFORM PRISON FARMS AND INDUSTRIES UNDERWAY

By Nicholas Kigondu

The State Department for Correctional Services is in the process of transforming Prison farms and industries into a model that will ensure self-sufficiency.

In a meeting with the Presidential Council of Economic Advisers on Wednesday, Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco said the envisaged reforms seeks to enhance offender rehabilitation and revenue generation through the introduction of modern farming, new skills training and related technologies.

According to the PS, besides rehabilitating offenders, the plan will strive to support the government’s development agenda in food security and local manufacturing including certified seeds production and livestock breed improvement.

 “The plan is aimed at improving infrastructure within correctional facilities, adoption of modern farming and industrial equipment through the introduction of modern technologies that will ultimately contribute to the nation's economic development agenda as well as help offenders reintegrate seamlessly into society.” She observed.

While lauding the PS for her efforts, Presidential Council of Economic Advisers Chairperson David Ndii, called for the development of a business plan providing performance and potential revenue projections for the proposed enterprise saying the government has put in place elaborate structures to improve operating business environment.

He cited the Government Owned Enterprises Bill that is currently before parliament, that aims to establish a unified legal framework for the governance, performance, and oversight of state-owned enterprises, as among frameworks that will promote commercial principles in government-owned companies. 

The State Department for Correctional Services is currently implementing a host of reforms, including legal and policy review, meant to among others revamp its prisons' farms and industries as part of the government’s broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.