Faiza Salima, also known as Faiza Fabz
KFM and NTV Uganda presenter Faiza Salima, also known as Faiza Fabz, was among the anti-corruption activists arrested last week during the #March2Parliament protests . After her release on bail last Tuesday, the vibrant presenter returned to her duties on Thursday morning, much to the anticipation of her KFM colleagues and listeners.
Upon her return, Faiza shared her experience behind bars, highlighting the dire conditions she faced. She described the prison facilities as appalling, noting that inmates have to share mattresses, with some sleeping on the floor in overcrowded wards. The beds are so cramped that inmates must sleep on one side of their bodies.
“You receive a blanket to use as a bedsheet and another to cover yourself. If you bring your own bedsheet, it stays behind as it becomes the property of Luzira,” Faiza explained during her appearance on the D-Mighty Breakfast show.
Faiza also recounted the inadequate food provisions. She noted that inmates are given a single meal before 3 p.m., which must be saved to last until the next day’s meal. There are no designated lunch and dinner times, so prisoners must ration their food carefully.
Regarding prison uniforms, Faiza revealed that each inmate is given only one pair. “You have to wash and dry it yourself. If you need a spare uniform, you must get one from a ‘Katikkiro’—an inmate who oversees others in the ward. Those less fortunate must wash their uniform and dry it on their bodies,” she said.
One of Faiza’s most poignant moments was interacting with inmates who have been on remand for years, awaiting their day in court. She expressed her fear and empathy for those in prolonged detention, including a woman who had been asked for a bribe of 5 million shillings to advance her case but could not afford it.
Faiza also shared the harsh reality of some inmates never receiving visits from family or relatives due to lack of information on their whereabouts.
Separately, Faiza highlighted a troubling rule at Luzira Women’s Prison, which requires inmates to leave their sandals at the entrance of the administration block, forcing them to meet visitors barefoot. She described this as dehumanizing, emphasizing that sandals, though essential, are not provided by the state and must be purchased privately.
“I’ll never forget an elderly woman, around 60 years old, pleading with me to buy her slippers. It broke my heart to see her in such a vulnerable state,” Faiza said in a post on her X handle.
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