Abstract
According to the Prisons Act (2006) Section 47, desertion by a prison officer from duty is a criminal offence. The Public Service Standing Orders (2010) also states that any officer who suddenly leaves without an explanation is legally responsible for absconding from duty.

Presently Uganda Prisons Service staffing level is 9,671(9,146 uniformed and 525 civilian) against 56,372 inmates. There is a shortage of 39,799 staff. Staff to inmate ratio stands at 1:7 (UPS record, 31^st January 2019) against the ideal 1:3.

Despite the above, UPS continues to lose staff. The current staff turnover rate is high at 200 per annum (SIP IV, 2016/17-2019/20) amidst improved workings, living conditions and pay rise for junior officers. This is worsened by the increased number of staff who desert the service every year. According to the recent statistics 91 staff deserted in 2013/14, 45 in 2014/15, 55 in 2015/16, 79 in 2016/17, 95 in 2017/18 and by 31^st Jan, 2018/19, 47 staff had deserted. Although UPS recruited 705 recruit warders/wardresses in 2017 to replace those who had left the service, only 695 were passed-out (PATS record, 2019). This number was still insufficient to replace those who had left the service. If the desertion rate remains like this in the next three years, desertion alone will contribute an average of 219 staff of the overall attrition in the Service.

UPS Research Office October 2019 Study

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