news 21 August 2026 Nile Post
New Committee to Enhance Health Rights in Uganda's Justice System
A multi-agency Criminal Justice Health Rights Committee has convened to strengthen health and human rights protections for individuals within Uganda's correctional facilities and across the entire justice chain. The committee aims to integrate these protections into the routine operations of key justice institutions. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/365720/justice-institutions-move-to-strengthen-health-rights-for-people-in-custody
Uganda’s justice institutions are taking a unified approach to bolster the health and human rights of individuals in custody. The newly formed Criminal Justice Health Rights Committee (CJHRC) held its inaugural meeting in Kampala, bringing together senior officials from the Judiciary, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the Uganda Police Force, and the Uganda Prisons Service.
This collaborative effort, established in March 2026, also includes representation from the Ministry of Health, the Uganda AIDS Commission, and the Global Fund. Principal Judge Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo emphasized the committee’s crucial role in making health rights protection a permanent fixture within Uganda’s justice system, covering the entire spectrum from police detention to prisons and eventual community reintegration.
The committee is set to oversee the “Breaking Down Barriers” (BDB) Initiative, a program focused on dismantling gender and human rights obstacles that hinder access to health services for detainees and vulnerable groups, particularly concerning HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. Justice Abodo highlighted the persistent gaps in fulfilling national and international health obligations, underscoring the need for enhanced inter-institutional coordination.
Immediate priorities for the CJHRC involve establishing a shared understanding of the BDB Initiative, its objectives, and the specific responsibilities of each participating agency. The committee will then focus on developing mechanisms to monitor and embed these health rights interventions into the daily operations of the criminal justice institutions, moving beyond project-based support.
The Judiciary has pledged its full commitment, promising strategic guidance and capacity building to ensure that judicial processes actively promote health equity, dignity, and equality for all. This initiative arrives amidst ongoing concerns regarding access to essential healthcare for individuals within detention facilities and other at-risk populations.
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