The purpose of the study was to examine how inmate handling affects prisons’ security in Uganda taking a case of Luzira maximum security prison in Kampala. The objectives of the study was to categorically; examine the effect of a human rights approach to inmate handling on the safety of prison population in Uganda taking a case of Luzira maximum security prison, assess the influence of inmates’ welfare on the protection of critical infrastructure in Uganda, and to analyse the effectiveness of the existing strategies in ensuring prisons security in Uganda taking a case of Luzira maximum security prison in Kampala extra region. To understand the influence of inmates handling on the safety of prison population in Uganda, a theoretical and empirical literature review was undertaken and subjected to a thematic content analysis were a conceptual framework was developed. The study applied a case study research design where qualitative and quantitative ways of both analysis and collection of data were used. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview guide, Focused Group Discussion (FGD), and Documentary review. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques of analyses were used. Simple random sampling, purposive, and convenience sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 132 respondents from the target population of 200. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics involving mean, standard deviation, and regression analysis with the aid of SSPS and presented using tables. The results indicated that inmates welfare (r = 0.788, p<0.001) was significantly related with prison safety; human rights handling of prisoners (r = 0.599, p<0.001) was significantly related with prison safety and; the existing strategies (β = 0.779; p<0.001) significantly influence prison safety. In view of the above findings, the researcher concluded that the way inmates are handled has a very significant effect on their safety and the security of the prisons facility generally and therefore, handling of inmates must be in a manner that respects their rights, furthermore, concluded that indeed inmates’ welfare directly influences the protection of critical infrastructure like the video conferencing system, spying camera system among others hence resulting in to prisons insecurity generally, and finally, the study concluded that, whereas there are a number of measures like access control for visitors and use of surveillance technology that have been put in place to ensure the safety of this facility though there are some instances where either such strategies are not enforced or are not strictly adhered too and this in one way or the other negatively impacts on the prisons’ security. The study recommends among others things that: prison authorities to put in place appropriate measures and mechanisms aimed at promoting a human rights approach to inmate handling as a way of averting the likely negative consequences on the to the safety of prison population in Uganda, the government of Uganda through the Ministry of Internal Affairs should spearhead efforts towards supporting the improvement of inmates welfare programs that foster prisons security building in areas frequently hit by insecurity especially when it comes to the protection of critical infrastructure, and that prison authorities should conduct massive UPS staff sensitization and training about the relevancy of making effective use of existing strategies in ensuring prisons security in Uganda prisons. Key words: Influence, Inmates handling, Prison Security and Safety, Critical Infrastructure, and Prison Management.

A Dissertation Report Submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Security and Strategic Studies of Nkumba University