|
|
Beggars shaken after two-week remand jail stintby Matilda Kirenga and Staff writer The lives of more than 10 street beggars are in danger as they are reportedly suffering from diseases contacted during their two-week remand jail term at the Kisongo jail. The beggars, most of them physically handicapped were arrested on the 23rd of February and released on bail on the 9th of March this year. Speaking on behalf of others, one of the victims, Julius Zakayo, said police tricked them that they were being taken to the Regional Commissioner’s office for a bash and gifts. According to Zakayo, the police later bundled them into the truck which normally carries prisoners and found themselves at the Maromboso Primary Court in Levolosi. A total of 20 street beggars were then charged with loitering contrary to section 176 of the Human Resources Act Number 6 of 1976 . They were put in custody at the Kisongo jail house. "Most of us are disabled and need to be assisted while going to the toilet", said Zakayo. "But in jail, there was no one to help us". As the result, various beggars would fall onto the urine filled toilet floor which also was dotted with human faeces and mud, according to the victims. Due to that, some beggars are nursing bruises, skin rashes and diarrhoea, said to have been contacted during the 15-day custody. "We ate half cooked "ugali" (maize meal) and almost raw beans and these caused most of us to suffer acute stomach problems", lamented the beggars. The beggars have also complained that, most of them, especially those suffering from leprosy were forced to mix with other prisoners, some of whom coughing badly and ever since they have also contacted bad coughs. They also complained that there was hardly any place to sleep as they were bullied to leave space for stronger remandees. Cold nights, hard floor, mosquitoes and bed bugs caused a number of street beggars to come out with colds, fever and malaria, they said. Apparently, due to lack of money, most beggars haven’t been able to buy medicine, let alone seek medical attention in local hospitals and are reported to be suffering in silence. Only about four out of the 20 recently released beggars are in good health and are the ones who spoke to this paper adding that they are currently doing their final round of begging to get money for their bus fares back home. "We have no alternative", they said. "We are quitting the town but God is watching what is going on " . The recently arrested beggars include: Samwel Samora (72), Kurwa Magembe (56), Elizabeth Likembe (57), Mkembe Mshisha (45), Maria Lazaro (49), Fiesta Lazaro (61), Petro Kurwa (60), Nathael Ibra (19) and Simon Mayunga (29). Others are Clinton Zakayo (50), Lemmy Tungule (48), Theresia Paul (55) and Martha Suleiman (68). The rest are Asha Ibrahim, Masanja Maduhu, Kabla Nandaula, Msoka Msukuringo and Julius Zakayo. Appearing before the Primary Court Magistrate, Patrick
Maligana last week, the beggars were let out on bail after being in remand jail
for15 days.
|
Courts
& Crime