In accordance with Article 216 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces appointed Mr. Samuel Akena as Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons.

Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons, Samuel Akena

This follows the recommendation of the Prisons Authority after the retirement of Mr. James Mwanje from service in May, 2022.

The Commissioner General of Prisons Can. Dr. Johnson Byabashaija, while presiding over the Pipping Ceremony of Mr. Samuel Akena at Uganda Prisons Headquarters, extended gratitude to H.E the President, Prisons Authority and Staff of UPS for the support towards enabling the appointment a success.

He empowered his new deputy to be in charge of all heads of directorates and take charge of disciplinary issues of senior officers.

Dr. Byabashaija also noted that Uganda Prisons Service is in the process of Promoting both senior and junior officers, he urged them to remain obedient, patient and disciplined.

Who Mr. Samuel Akena?

Mr. Samuel Akena of a is a professional, experienced and competent senior Manager of the Uganda Prisons Service. Prior to his appointment as a Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons, he served as an Assistant Commissioner General in charge of the Correctional Services Directorate from 2016 to July 2022. As head of the Directorate, he greatly contributed to the provision of safe, secure and Humane Custody Services of Prisoners. He has been instrumental in the transformation of the Uganda Prison Service enabling it to deliver the best Custodial and Correctional Services in Africa.

Mr. Akena joined the service in 1987 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Prisons and he was later confirmed in appointment. He was promoted to the rank of Superintentendent of Prisons in 1999 and Senior Superintendent of Prisons in 2001.In 2004; he was promoted to Assistant

Commissioner of Prisons. In 2012, he was promoted to commissioner of prisons. Later alone in 2016, he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner General of Prisons.

Upon successful completion of the Cadet Officers course at the Prisons Academy and Training School, he was deployed to serve as the Deputy Officer In Charge of the Murchison Bay Prison from 1989 to 1993.

Later served as officer in charge of various stations including Uganda prison farms of Lugore (1993-1997), Tororo (1997-1999) and Isimba (1999 -2004).

He was later alone appointed the Regional Prisons Commander, Mid-Western Region in 2004.

He was further deployed at the Prisons Headquarters as In- Charge of Training and Operations from 2004 -2009.

From 2009-2012,he was in charge of Prisons Administration and Farms Inspection.

In 2012, he was made to head the department of Support Services up to 2016 when he was appointed Assistant Commissioner General of Prisons and deployed to the head the Directorate of Correctional Services.

At the international level, Mr.Akena is a member of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) where he has served and has supported in raising Uganda’s image globally. Many countries world over have visited Uganda to Benchmark and learn from our best Correctional Services.

Mr. Akena is a graduate of Makerere University and the Uganda Management Institute in the fields of Natural Sciences and Management with vast training in Leadership and Strategic Management Programmes.