The Uganda Prisons Service has clarified that the constitutional authority to grant pardons to convicted prisoners rests solely with the President.
Prisons Service spokesperson Frank Baine said the clarification follows public confusion surrounding the recent pardon of car dealer Haji Muhammad Ssebuwufu, with some members of the public mistakenly attributing the decision to the Commissioner General of Prisons.
Citing Article 121 of the Constitution of Uganda, Baine explained that pardons are granted by the President upon the advice of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which is chaired by the Attorney General.
He emphasized that only convicted prisoners qualify for presidential pardon, not remandees.
Those eligible include capital offenders who have exhausted all avenues of appeal, inmates nearing completion of their sentences, and prisoners who are elderly, terminally ill, pregnant or breastfeeding, provided they have served at least half of their terms.
Baine added that each case must demonstrate genuine remorse before the committee can recommend clemency to the President.
By Newsroom
2nd Mar 2026
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