NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong has expressed concern over Uganda’s growing prison population, saying the detention of thousands of citizens deprives the country of productive manpower.

“Imagine having 88,000 Ugandans in your custody, it bothers us,” Todwong said, reflecting on the number of inmates held in government detention facilities across the country.

He made the remarks at Luzira Prisons Academy while lecturing prison officers attending command and leadership courses at the Prisons Training School.

Todwong said the country’s prison population represents a significant loss of productive manpower, urging officers to use their professional knowledge and influence to support national development, fight household poverty and promote wealth creation.

He also called on the officers to support government programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga and women’s empowerment initiatives, particularly in communities surrounding prisons.

The NRM Secretary General commended the Uganda Prisons Service for its contribution to national productivity, urging officers to share their agricultural production skills with surrounding communities.

He further challenged the officers to uphold discipline, reject corruption and strengthen public relations, emphasising that national development requires collective effort.

“National development needs collective effort — poverty fight is everyone’s duty,” he said.