The report released by the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative indicates that 52% of people held in custody before trial have never received legal services.
The organisation’s lead researcher, Lizet Vlamings, says authorities at detention facilities repeatedly violated the 48 hour rule in which suspects are required to be presented in court.
Christine Nanding, the Director of Human rights in the police force, says their investigations department is not equipped to conclude investigations on the numerous cases reported daily.
Currently, the judiciary requires at least 500 legal officers to help reduce the backlog of cases that are reported to be 26,000.
The Prisons Spokesperson, Frank Baine, puts the blame on the judiciary for reportedly failing to recruit more officers.
The report recommends an increase in the amount of money allocated to the judiciary, prisons and the police in order to address the human and financial resource gaps. It also calls for the adoption of a legal aid policy and the sensitisation of suspects and the public on judicial procedures.
The Director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Dr Livingstone Sewanyana, says the Prisons Service should provide legal aid to needy suspects given the amount of money it receives annually.