Clare N
Inmates and staff at Katojo Government Prison in Fort Portal’s North Division have expressed their gratitude to the Inter-Religious Council (IRC) Fort Portal chapter for their recent charitable and spiritual visit.
Led by Chair Bishop Reuben Kisembo, a group of IRC members, including Fr. Gerald Akugizibwe, Bishop Joseph Sanyu, Bishop Richard Rusoke, Sheikh Swaib Tibenda, and a representative of Bishop Jimmy Katuramu, visited the inmates with a message of hope and repentance. They also provided essential aid items such as sugar, rice, soap, cooking oil, salt, sanitary towels, diapers, and milk to support the inmates’ daily needs.
Addressing the gathered inmates, Bishop Kisembo, who has personal experience as a former inmate, encouraged them to maintain hope and faith in God, emphasizing that through faith, the seemingly impossible can become possible. He urged them to use their time in prison for repentance and personal transformation.
Other IRC members speak out
Bishop Joseph Sanyu, Secretary of IRC Fort Portal, called for cooperation among inmates and steadfast faith in their respective religions. He also commended the Katojo prison staff for their care, noting that the inmates appeared well.
Rev. Fr. Gerald Akugizibwe, representing Bishop Robert Muhiirwa, Vice Chair of IRC, encouraged the inmates to keep their trust in God, follow their leaders’ guidance, and show love for one another.
Sheikh Swaib Tibenda, representing the Muslim community, urged the inmates to seek genuine repentance and learn from their current situation to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Inmates Grateful for the visit
The chairperson of the inmates expressed appreciation for the IRC’s visit, noting that it provided them with hope, love, and a sense of belonging. Mr. Bukenya Emmanuel Muwanguzi, Chairperson of the Inter-Religious Council, thanked the leaders for respecting the inmates’ freedom of worship and expression while in prison.
Women OC call for NGO’s attention
O.C Hellen Bawaya Akiiki, the O.C Women prisons wing, raised concern over continued child neglect by relatives to women inmates, saying that for the past four years, they have faced a challenge with failure by relatives of inmates to pick the children born from prison or who come with their mothers, especially after hitting the age of one and a half. She requested the present religious leaders to lobby for them willing NGOs that can take care of these innocent children, as their mothers complete serving their terms
The O.C. Katojo, Mr. Niwahereza, who reported a current population of about 1,700 prisoners being kept by only 137 staff, praised the IRC for their productive visit and acknowledged the discipline of both inmates and staff.
