MPs want Ugandans held in DRC prisons extradited

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Members of Parliament have asked the government to negotiate the extradition of Ugandans stuck in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) prisons following the outbreak of coronavirus.

According to reports from DRC, 41 cases of COVID-19 have been detected while five people have died in Ndolo prison in Kinshasa where 124 Ugandans including Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Sam Mugumya are being held.

According to Ronald Mugume, the MP Rukungiri Municipality, the Ugandans held at the prisons are at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Mugume says that the 124 Ugandans in Ndolo prison have been held in prison without being taken to the court.

Mugume who raised the matter during plenary on Thursday appealed to government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to negotiate a possible deal to bring the prisoners to Ugandans.

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga asked the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice to work out a plan on the matter in two weeks.

DRC has to date reportedly released 1,200 prisoners in a bid to decongest the prison.

For extradition to happen, the two countries, the requesting state and the surrendering state should have an extradition treaty that facilitates the process.

Uganda, Rwanda and DRC in 2005 only signed an extradition treaty on terrorists and other criminals.

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