President Yoweri Museveni has granted a pardon to 130 convicted minor offenders. The decision was implemented on October 15, 2024, in alignment with the provisions of the Constitution, which allow the President to pardon prisoners on grounds of public health and humanitarian concerns.
Frank Baine, the Uganda Prisons Service spokesperson, confirmed that all 130 individuals had been released following the pardon.
“The pardons were granted based on public health and humanitarian reasons, and all necessary procedures were followed to ensure the safe release of these prisoners,” he stated.
The list of pardoned individuals includes those convicted of various crimes, with theft being the most common. Other offenses include burglary, arson, causing death by reckless driving, attempted murder, and unlawful possession of narcotics.
The pardon also covered convicts of less common crimes such as possession of wildlife species, injuring animals, and conspiracy to defraud.
