Sexual offenses remain a serious concern for the criminal justice system, requiring more than punishment. Effective rehabilitation, behaviour change and proper reintegration are important in reducing the risk of re-offending and protecting victims and communities.
Against this background, the Uganda Prisons Service (UPS), in partnership with the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), with financial support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda, today launched the Sex Offenders Treatment Manual at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
The manual provides a structured approach to the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of offenders convicted of sexual offenses. Its implementation is intended to strengthen correctional interventions and support efforts to address the factors that may contribute to sexual offending.
Presiding over the launch, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda, H.E. , said the support provided to Uganda should translate into practical progress within the correctional system.
She described the partnership as part of the Netherlands' continued support for effective correctional services, adding that cooperation should result in interventions that improve the lives of people and strengthen justice systems.
The Netherlands Embassy has been supporting a number of areas linked to security, rule of law and human rights in Uganda. Ambassador Samura has been the Netherlands' Ambassador to Uganda since August 2026.
The partnership will also support vocational skilling programmes within the UPS, including initiatives at Kitalya Mini Max and Soroti Main Prisons, where inmates will be equipped with skills such as shoe-making and tailoring
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons, Mr. Samuel Akena said the new manual would give prison officers and social workers a clear framework for dealing with offenders convicted of sexual offenses.
Mr. Akena said about 19,500 people convicted of sex-related offenses are currently part of the prison population, highlighting the need for effective interventions that address sexual offending while supporting rehabilitation.
He added that the main objective is to help break the cycle of sexual offenses through effective treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration, while ensuring that the rights and safety of victims remain an important consideration.
“The implementation of the manual must now begin in earnest,” Mr. Akena told prison officers and social workers attending the launch.
He urged all officers and social workers working in prisons to put the knowledge and skills gained through the training into practice, saying they had already been equipped to implement the programme.
The manual will be rolled out across all 270 prison units in Uganda, bringing the treatment approach closer to offenders serving sentences in different parts of the country.
Mr. Akena also thanked IDLO, the Netherlands Government and other partners for supporting the development and implementation of the manual, saying such partnerships contribute to strengthening Uganda's correctional system.
For UPS, the launch marks an important step in moving from a purely custodial approach towards correctional interventions that address the behaviour and needs of offenders.
The manual is expected to help prison officers, social workers and other professionals involved in rehabilitation to use a common approach when assessing offenders, planning treatment and monitoring progress.
The Head of the IDLO Country Office in Uganda, Ms Barbara Kilei, said the organization` was pleased to support Uganda in strengthening its response to sexual offending through a structured rehabilitation approach.
The launch brought together key stakeholders from the criminal justice system, senior Prison officers, social workers and development partners
