Prime Minister Robinah NabbanjaBy Prisca WanyenyaGovernment will spend Shs5.856 billion to pay pension and gratuity benefits for 212 former employees and servicemen of Rwenzururu Kingdom in fulfilment of a pledge by President Museveni.Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja revealed this during the September 3, 2026 plenary while responding to a question by Dr. Monday Rude Julius (Bukonzo County East) who sought an update on when the benefits would be paid.“Government has already undertaken verification. Kasese District Local Government, through the Chief Administrative Officer, submitted a verified list of 212 beneficiaries, together with their computed pension and gratuity obligations amounting to Shs5,856,076,957, on December 23, 2025. The matter has therefore moved beyond verification; what remains is funding and payment,” Dr. Monday said.The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Finance to fast-track release of funds for immediate payment.Parliament heard that following decentralization of retirement benefits management, Kasese District was tasked to establish service records but faced challenges as many former servicemen lacked appointment letters and statutory documentation.“By December 2025, 212 files were regularized, verified, and cleared at a computed cost of Shs5,856,076,957. Verification for the remaining 53 former servicemen is ongoing. The verified obligation was submitted to Ministry of Finance and is subject to audit by the Internal Auditor General. Government remains fully committed to honouring this obligation. I will personally engage the Minister of Finance to ensure Shs5,856,076,957 is accommodated in the budget for immediate payment,” Nabbanja said.19 New Prisons Under ConstructionIn the same sitting, the Prime Minister revealed Government is constructing 19 prison facilities to add 8,658 square metres accommodating 2,405 more prisoners to reduce congestion.This was in response to a question by Shamim Malende (Kampala Woman MP) who raised concern over extreme overcrowding and welfare of prisoners.“The Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Samuel Akena said as of March 30, 2026, prisons are overcrowded and then Minister of Internal Affairs Kahinda Otafiire acknowledged that systematic delays in justice make some offenders serve longer on remand than the sentence they would receive upon conviction. We have people who should serve 6 months but end up spending 3 years on remand because cases are not heard in time,” Malende said.Nabbanja said Government is undertaking multi-sectoral interventions, noting in the last five years capacity has expanded by 21,639 square metres, creating 6,011 new spaces from 62,733 square metres in January 2020 to 84,373.2 square metres currently.She listed ongoing projects as Sembabule, Kassali, Lwengo, Kabula, Buwama, Paidha, Ikulwe, Amita, Ruimi, Nakasongola, Ndorwa, Aber, Arocha, Murchison Bay, Arua Main, Kitgum, Butuntumula, Rakai and Mutukula.“In 2026/27 targets: construction of 31 new wards at stations including Mityana, Kakiika and Kyakasengura. Uganda Prisons Service is finalizing Parole Rules at First Parliamentary Counsel to govern safe release of eligible inmates. Video Conferencing Systems installed in 21 facilities including Upper Prison Luzira, Arua, Mbarara, Lira, Soroti, Fort Portal and Ndorwa,” Nabbanja said.Recently completed facilities in the past five years include Kitatya Mini Max, Luzira Women, Ntungamo, Mutufu, Rukungiri, Lira Main, Masaka Main, Kiruhura, Kamuli, Bamunanika, Mukungwe, Kyenjojo, Nwoya, Sheema, Lwabenge, Bisso and Lukaya.She listed measures to reduce congestion including non-custodial sentences, collaboration with Justice Law and Order Sector to expand alternative sentencing, and vetting prisoners qualifying for executive clemency.“Our ultimate goal is to establish a crime-free country by strengthening crime prevention and detection capacity,” Nabbanja said.The post Govt to Spend Shs5.8Bn on Rwenzururu Pensioners, Construct 19 Prisons to Decongest Facilities appeared first on Business Focus.