"This specific program includes the province of Uíge. Therefore, we will prioritize, within the scope of this authorization, the construction of the new prison in the province of Uíge", said the head of the Interior Ministry, speaking to the press, after a visit to Uige.
This measure aims to improve the housing conditions of prisoners in the Congo Region, whose construction dates back to colonial times and which has capacity for 250 prisoners, but currently houses more than double that number (562 prisoners), according to Angop.
Thus, Manuel Homem considered that the conditions of that establishment are not good, and the situation is worsened by the overcrowding of prisoners in that establishment.
According to the head of the Interior Ministry, the Uíge government has already made available to the ministry headed by him a space of approximately 50 hectares designed to build the new prison.
Quoted by Angop, the governor stated that processes are currently underway to identify financing and start construction work as soon as possible, adding that the Congo Region will be closed, as it no longer has the necessary conditions to accommodate the prison population.
Still as part of his work journey in Uíge, the Minister of the Interior reiterated the fight against fuel smuggling.
According to a statement from the provincial government of Uíge, on Thursday, the governor of Uíge, José Carvalho da Rocha, received Manuel Homem, who made a two-day visit to the aforementioned province, with the aim of "evaluating the functioning of the sector at a regional level".
"Manuel Homem, who is accompanied by a large entourage, received courtesy greetings at the provincial government, where some concerns related to public safety, fuel smuggling and violent crime, among others, were raised," the note says.
During his working day, the minister visited, in the municipality of Negage, the "Kindoki Prison, the Regional Immigrant Detention Center, belonging to the Immigration and Foreigners Services (SME) and the works of the integrated services of the National Police", while in the municipality of Uíge, he visited the "works of the future headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Services (SIC) and the project of 200 houses of the Social Protection Fund of the Ministry of the Interior (CPS/MININT), both in the Quilumosso neighborhood".
This Friday, the day was reserved for a visit to the Congo prison and, later, to the rehabilitation works of the Provincial Delegation of the Interior in Uíge.
