Carceral Afterlives: Prisons, Detention, and Punishment in Postcolonial Uganda

Carceral Afterlives explores the politics, practices, and lived experiences of incarceration in postcolonial Uganda, focusing on the period between independence in 1962 and the beginning of Yoweri Museveni's presidency in 1986. The book analyzes the relationship between the prison system and other sites of confinement, such as informal detention spaces and wartime camps, and considers other forms of punishment. It demonstrates how Ugandans' postcolonial leaders attempted to harness the symbolic, material, and coercive power of prisons in the pursuit of political agendas. The book also examines the day-to-day realities of penal spaces and public perceptions of punishment by tracing the experiences of Ugandans who were incarcerated, their family members and friends, prison officers, and other government employees. It emphasizes how prisons and the wider use of confinement remain central to state power in the Global South and North and explores broader questions about the unfinished work of decolonization, the relationship between incarceration and struggles for freedom, and the prisons enduring yet increasingly contested place in our global institutional landscape.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2022
Publisher: Ohio University Press

Drawing upon a rich tapestry of social history, political history, and critical prison studies, this book delves into the enduring legacy of prisons and other instruments of colonial punishment after independence. It poses challenging questions about their continued existence and explores the complex dynamics that shape their existence in postcolonial societies.

In Carceral Afterlives, Katherine Bruce-Lockhart embarks on a profound exploration of the politics, practices, and lived experiences of incarceration in postcolonial Uganda. Focusing on the period between independence in 1962 and the beginning of Yoweri Museveni's presidency in 1986, the book offers a comprehensive analysis of the complex relationship between the prison system and other sites of confinement, including informal detention spaces known as "safe houses" and wartime camps.

Through a meticulous examination of archival and personal collections, interviews with Ugandans who lived through these decades, and a diverse range of media sources and memoirs, Bruce-Lockhart uncovers the intricate ways in which carceral systems were imagined and experienced by Ugandans held within, working for, or impacted by them. She sheds light on the ways in which Ugandans' postcolonial leaders, particularly Milton Obote and Idi Amin, harnessed the symbolic, material, and coercive power of prisons to pursue their political agendas.

Moreover, the book delves into the day-to-day realities of penal spaces and public perceptions of punishment by tracing the experiences of Ugandans who were incarcerated, their family members and friends, prison officers, and other government employees. It explores the ways in which carceral arenas became important sites of dissent, where individuals and groups used imprisonment as a means to voice their opposition and challenge the dominant narratives of power.

In addition to its analytical insights, Carceral Afterlives offers a poignant reflection on the human cost of incarceration. It highlights the devastating impact that imprisonment has on individuals, families, and communities, emphasizing the need for alternatives to punishment that prioritize rehabilitation, social justice, and human rights.

By examining the enduring legacy of prisons and other instruments of colonial punishment in postcolonial Uganda, this book contributes to a growing body of literature that challenges the conventional wisdom about the role of punishment in society. It provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex dynamics of power, justice, and resistance in postcolonial contexts and offers valuable insights into the ongoing struggles for social and political transformation.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780821424780