Dar es Salaam: Ukonga Prison warders accused of torture

BY DICKSON NG`HILY.

Relatives of people on death row now at Ukonga maximum security prison in Dar es Salaam are fearing for the inmates’ safety after being repeatedly denied permission to see them despite scheduled visits.

One of the relatives claims that they have been receiving threats from a prison warden that has left them worried that, ahead of the court ordered executions, some harm has already been inflicted on their loved one who is among those on death row.

It is reported that death row inmates at the Ukonga prison are apparently living with extreme and brutal abuse, including repeated torture and sexual assaults perpetrated against them by the prison security personnel.

However, the prison officers have vehemently denied the allegations.

It is reported that prisoners are denied basic rights like, visit by relatives and friends, communication, and even clean, regular and balanced food - which is contravention of the Prisons Act of 1967.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, “the law embodies the spirit of international human rights instruments”.

The high maximum security walls that lock the prisoners from the world, as well as the national policy holding that journalists are not permitted inside them, effectively shut away the prisoners from the entire society and the treatment they ought to get.

Nonetheless, opting for anonymity on Wednesday, a relative to one of the inmates took courage to speak with The Guardian alleging that life in Ukonga prison is inhumane and poses numerous threats to the prisoners’ wellbeing.

It is hell for the inmates, with claims of regular brutal torture and abuse by the prison wardens, the anonymous source said.

“... he told me that they are being tortured, they are not given food… they have neither mattresses nor bed sheets … when they complain, the wardens threaten them…,” reported the source recollecting the conversation from an earlier visit.

However, the tour now seems to them a lifetime ago and in their sad and yet realistic opinion, they added the following sentiment:

 “... although they are waiting for their death but I think they deserve to live as other prisoners live … like humans…,” with a manifest ironic heart the source lamented.  The source narrates their attempting to see their beloved one ahead of a scheduled execution, saying when they finally got the permit to do so they were rudely shocked to be sent away with claims that they were late and as such would not see their inmate.

According to the source, this was despite the fact that the permit is issued at the prison itself and would not have been had they really been late.

They have maintained the permit as evidence and report that the guards had attempted to take it from them. The officer, who stopped them and attempted to retrieve the permit, introduced himself as an assistant to the principal officer of Ukonga prison and in the exchange they had, our source said:

“…he said he has other reasons for denying us to see our relative…so we are worried… we don’t know what has happenned to him … may be he is dead … honestly we don’t have answers to the question and we would love to have them so that we may be at peace....”

It is reported that the same officer uttered the following statement to our source at a different occasion earlier.

“He told us that beatings and floggings were the methods most commonly used by the wardens … may be he has been beaten and wounded badly and they are trying to cover it ….”

When reached for comment, Steven Mwisabila, the Principal Officer of Ukonga prison said the following: “Inmates have basic rights to be observed…one of them is the right to be visited by family, friends and relatives … the inmate can also write or receive letters from relatives....”

In addition he said: “All prisoners are equal, we treat them equally … but if the prisoner is stubborn or does not abide by the laws and regulations, then he is punished … we do have special rooms for punishment and they get no mattresses….”

“I want to assure you that those allegations are untrue and are meant to tarnish our image…,” Mwisabila said.

The Principal Officer further sayid that a group of people, who he did not disclose visited the prison and apparently commended them for their work,

 “…there are no cases of torture … we always try our best to have an environment that is human friendly...,” he asserted.

To his commendation, he welcomed our reporter for an interview but not a tour of the prison.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (15/03/2013): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=52346