By Jackson Gaaniko
Some of the inmates in Yambio Central Prison have expressed concern over the shortage of medicine and food in the facility.
Felex Odongo, one of the inmates, reported that sick inmates often experience long delays before receiving treatment.
“When someone falls ill, medication is not given on time, and there is no proper system to monitor patients after treatment,” Odongo said.
“In some cases, inmates wait two to three days before being referred to a health facility due to administrative procedures,” he added.
He expressed that inmates continue to face worsening humanitarian and health conditions marked by severe shortages of medication and inadequate food supply.
Odongo added that delayed access to justice and poor medical follow-up services remain a major problem.
He added that even when referrals are made, access to essential drugs remains inconsistent, as some external health facilities are also reportedly under-resourced.
Alice Boniface Peter, a female inmate, described the daily food rations as insufficient for the prison population.
“We are many, but only about three cups of beans are given per day,” she said. “We are facing hunger. Mostly we receive beans and cowpeas that take a long [time] to cook, with only a small amount of oil,” Boniface said
Boniface also raised concerns about delays in legal processes, saying many inmates lack proper follow-up on their cases, leaving them in prolonged detention.
In response, the Chairperson of the Western Equatoria State Human Rights Commission, Fozia Margaret Emmanuel, acknowledged the situation and pledged to engage relevant authorities.
“We will lobby with partners and engage the state government to address these challenges,” she said, noting that previous advocacy efforts by the commission led to donations of mattresses and food supplies following a prisoner strike last year.
Despite these interventions, conditions remain dire, prompting renewed calls from human rights defenders for urgent reforms in prison management.
Attempts to obtain comment from Yambio Central Prison authorities were unsuccessful, as officials declined to speak.