My life at Kitalya Mini-Max Prison

By Drone Media Staff 

Thursday 27th, June 2021 started as any other normal day.   Flavia Asiimwe Nansubuga, the princess of Buganda, who happens to be my wife; woke up early in the morning to prepare cappuccino so that I don’t go out with an empty stomach.  Quick as she normally is; the cappuccino was ready in 20 minutes and I escorted it with a honey dripping slice of Kiddawalime Bread.

I later rang Darius Magara, another journalist who we co-exist the same criminal libel file.  I met Magara at City House; where we briefly discussed about the police file and agreed to go to CID HQTRS for a routine report. At 11 am Magara and I left for CID HQTRS, but to our surprise on arrival; four arrogant Ugandans of Rwandese origin, grabbed our police bond forms and ordered us into a Pick-up Truck.

” Where are you taking us,” I asked angrily. ” Why are you asking?  You are a criminal!” replied one of the four arrogant Ugandans of Rwandese origin.  “But chief, police is not court to criminalize me before judgement,” I informed the arrogant police officer.  “How do you take me yet this file has a calling letter from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)? Secondly, why didn’t you inform us to come along with our lawyers?” I again asked them angrily.  At this time, the other three barked at the talkative police officer to keep quiet and stop answering me.

I was very hurt to realize that the file was not yet sanctioned, but rushed there (Buganda Road Court)  to dodge a calling letter from the DPP.  It took three hours for the file, which had taken a year at CID HQTRS, to be sanctioned. But enough, when we appeared to the magistrate to take our pleas; she immediately remanded us to Kitalya Mini-Max Prison for 21 days; claiming she was tired, remember lawyers and sureties were available.

We arrived at Kitalya Mini-Max Prison at around 8pm and the world changed. We were told you are going to pass through 21 gates.  After the first three gates we were subjected to a hectic and thorough search; looking for ganja, marijuana, money and many other forbidden items.  It is here that we were introduced to fallen-in ( read folini), squatting whenever you are being counted or talking to any Prison askari.

Thereafter we were led through 18 gates to Ward 5 and 6 of Unit 3, where we were subjected to a hash welcome by the ward leaders who included Ward-Police, RP and Katikkilo.  Those criminals won’t drop their habits so soon; they grabbed our rings; belts, vests. masks and handkerchiefs.  It is here that we were introduced to thanking Prisoner Askaris whenever they pass by. Whenever the RP sees askaris coming he shouts, ” Ashanti shanna! then you clap your hands five times. As soon as askaris leave, he shouts again, “Yongeza tenna! Then you clap again five times. Eating is once in a single day and the gates are closed at 4:45pm.  The posho is fit to be fed to pigs or cows for milking. The beans are strictly five or ten seeds, but whenever they are many seeds of beans, know the stones are the majority.

Sleeping time is hell. You imagine 239 -300 prisoners in one ward, which is the size of a classroom. It is the work of Ward police and RP to pack you like sardines in what is known as Kigari. 

However, prison is a good place to keep criminals, the problem is that some criminals like those embezzling public funds are not taken there. Police officers and judiciary officials, who are the most corrupt lot in this banana republic never go there.