The ministry of gender labor and social development has re-launched the construction of the second phase of Arua remand home which is expected to cost over 100 million shillings.
The second phase that is to handle an administrative block and staff houses was launched on Wednesday following the release of funds by the Danish development agency, DANIDA.
Earlier on DANIDA had withheld the funding because of failure by Arua district authorities to secure land titles for the free land they had given for the construction of the remand home at Gili Gili in Pajulu Sub County.
The first phase worth 175 million shillings was donated by DANIDA under the justice law and order sector reform project. The money was used to construct two dormitories and living rooms.
Jackson Adriko, Arua district probation and child welfare officer says when the second phase of the construction work is completed it will help the center to become operational in one year’s time. Adriko says when the work is ready it will help them to deal with issues of children who get into problems with the law because many of them are now being kept together with hand core criminals in Arua government prison.
Johnson Ocan, the program officer for ANPPCAN, a child rights organisation says completing the construction work will help them stop children who have committed crimes from being sent to Arua government prison.
According to a report obtained from the ANPPCAN office there are currently 11 children remanded to Arua government prison on various capital offences, the highest being those who have committed defilement.
