The visits are expected to start on 25th February 2022 as the Spokesperson of RCS, SSP Pelly Gakwaya Uwera has confirmed to IGIHE.
“Visiting inmates in different prisons across the country has resumed with specific guidelines put in place. The pandemic is still there but the number of new positive cases is reducing. That is why we have decided to resume visits to prisoners,” she said.
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There has been a good progress to contain the pandemic but health officials continue to advise the general public to adhere to instituted preventive measures including social distancing, proper wearing of face masks and frequently sanitizing hands.
RCS reveals that there have been enough preparations whereby all measures will be respected.
“Other venues where visitors meet with inmates must not exceed 75% occupancy while the guest and prisoner have to keep two-meter distance and wear face masks properly. These venues are ready and the hand washing facilities with clean water have been completed. Soaps and hand sanitizers are also available. In fact, we want to resume visits while adhering to instituted health guidelines,” SSP Uwera said.
As per new guidelines issued by RCS, only one person is allowed to visit a prisoner.
An individual planning a visit to inmates is required to notify prison’s management via email specifying the day. He/she is also advised to inform the prison’s management in case the visit is cancelled for any reasons.
Unvaccinated prisoners are not allowed to be visited while visitors must have been vaccinated and present negative COVID-19 test results released within 72 hours.
SSP Uwera has also revealed that almost 100% of inmates have been inoculated even though 58 refused COVID-19 jabs.
“Almost all inmates have been vaccinated but 58 of them rejected COVID-19 jab citing beliefs related reasons. We continue to educate them so that they can change mindsets and convince them that receiving vaccine doses is in their interests like other Rwandans,” she noted.
Prison visits had been suspended through a statement released on 16th March 2020, two days after the country confirmed the first case of COVID-19.
During the period of suspension, SSP Uwera has said, there was an alternative for people to send money to prisoners using provided MoMo Pay number.
She encouraged people to continue using the money transfer system because the pandemic has not yet been defeated.
Visitors are not allowed to give inmates any items brought from outside prison’s premises.
Rwanda has 13 prisons accommodating 81,535 inmates. Before the onset of COVID-19, RCS used to register between 10,000 and 20,000 visitors per day. The number is expected to go down to 8,000 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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