Ngoma prison inmates have revealed frustration over staying for long in prison without receiving any visits from families which is biting to their psyche, feeling alienated.
Ngoma prison accommodates only female inmates.
Inmates have revealed this on Wednesday during the celebration of women’s day in Ngoma prison.
Nyirahabimana Seraphine, one of Ngoma prison inmates said that she has only been visited once within the period of two years.
“When we arrive here, families perceive us like inhuman people to the extent that they can visit some of us once over two years while others are not visited,” she said.
The Chairperson of Transparency International Rwanda, Ingabire Marie Immaculée described the situation of barring visitors to jailed relatives as rights abuse and requested Rwandans to keep loving their imprisoned inmates knowing that being corrected for committed offenses doesn’t turn them into cursed persons.
The spokesperson of Rwanda Correctional Service, Hillary Sengabo said that some family members stop visiting jailed relatives but called upon Rwandans to demonstrate affection for inmates.
“People are used to visit jailed relatives during the first days. However when the trial ends up with sentencing the inmate ten years or beyond in prison, people give up and stop the visits. Such visits contribute to the correction and increases hope among inmates knowing they are cared for,” he said.
The administration of Ngoma prison says that most of inmates are detained over drug trafficking adding that some relatives refrain from visiting inmates since they were involved in similar crime lest they should be arrested too.
Ngoma prison of women accommodates 699 inmates. Only 11% of them are visited.
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