Should prisoners be allowed to make love to their partners? Is incarceration and denial of conjugal rights double punishment?
These were questions prisoners and students grappled with recently at a debate in Luzira Maximum Prison.
On Wednesday, inmates at the prison’s upper section took on students of Bishop Cipriano Kihangire SSS in a lively debate—where ironically—they were to make a case against conjugal rights, while the students pressed on that the men in detention should not be denied one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Davis Aleper, the lead prison debater, argued: “The government should first revise the laws to provide us with shorter sentences. This will enable us serve our punishments fast enough and go back home to meet our spouses other than providing us with conjugal rights which we shall not enjoy when locked up.”
With over 60 colleagues applauding, Aleper, who is serving time in jail for defilement, added: “Even then, conjugal rights can only be enjoyed if prisons are improved. We need more space for privacy, respect for prisoners and provision of finances to our families while we are in detention.”
This argument was taken up by the second speaker in the three-prisoner team, Julius Ogasi, who in fluent English said: “If our families are provided for, then our wives will be patient enough as we are locked up.
They will not have to look for other men to provide for them financially in exchange for sex.” But how feasible an idea is this in offences of a capital nature that may have an inmate locked up for decades?
Edna Mushabe, an S6 student of Bishop Cipriano, reasoned that the only way families could keep together is by letting spouses make love to their incarcerated partners.
“There is need for continuity in prisoners’ families and this can only be possible if they are allowed to meet and make love with their spouses,” she said, as she, interestingly, got cheered by her school mates and some of the prisoners.
Gideon Kintu of S5 observed that denying prisoners conjugal rights could be a recipe for disaster. “For someone serving 10 years in jail living without sex is like living in denial. It could drive them into committing worse crimes.”
Irony
The irony of teenagers making a case for jailed adults to enjoy sexual rights was not lost to many a watcher. But for Mr Charles Rubongoya, the director of Bishop Cipriano School, the more striking thing was the articulate manner in which the prisoners made their case.
“I came here on Monday and took them through the entire process of how the Karl Popper debate format works. I am surprised that they could argue this well and pull it off successfully.”
Another watcher dazzled by the prisoners’ eloquence was Mr Edgar Kangere, an official of the National Debate Council.
“The prisoners are really amazing and intelligent. Had they taken part in our regional schools championships, I am sure they would have made it to the national contest.”
Yes. Schools championship because actually the prisoners who debated are students—caged students.
The prison’s headmaster, Mr Anatoli Biryomumaisho, said the public should respect prisoners, adding that they are talented and the prisons service was helping them discover their potential.
He told Daily Monitor that the prison provides full education to the inmates from primary to university level—the latter offering diplomas in entrepreneurship and small business management.
The prisoners might have carried the day—but the main celebration was not in the successful defence of restrictions on conjugal rights but rather—that they had proved jail does not mean failure to argue
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