The Bishop of Masaka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Serverus Jjumba, has urged prison inmates to remain hopeful, reminding them that their lives can change for the better if they place their trust in God.
During a pastoral visit to prisons in Ssembabule District, Bishop Jjumba shared a meal with inmates as a gesture of love, humility, and solidarity. The prisons visited included Ssembabule Main Prison, which houses 157 inmates, Ntuusi Prison with 43 inmates, and Lwemiyaga Prison, home to 56 inmates.
The Bishop emphasized the importance of personal hygiene and environmental conservation by donating soap to the inmates and planting trees at each facility. He encouraged prisoners to reflect on their past mistakes, seek repentance, and move forward with renewed purpose, including those who believe they were wrongly accused.
During the interaction, inmates voiced concerns about the hardships they face, particularly prolonged periods spent on remand without trial, which they described as a violation of their rights.
Prison authorities, including Hamis Luwano of Ssembabule Main Prison, Edward Sunday of Ntuusi Prison, and Philip Olowo of Lwemiyaga Prison, thanked the Bishop for the visit. However, they highlighted key challenges affecting the justice system, especially the shortage of state prosecutors at Ssembabule Court, which has led to delayed case hearings.
The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Ssembabule, Jane Francis Kagaayi, attributed prison congestion to the lack of government prosecutors and assured inmates and officials that the government is working to deploy more prosecutors to the region.
According to Denis Mulindwa, the Coordinator of the Prison Outreach Program in Masaka Diocese, the initiative has been running for four years. It has previously covered Masaka City, Rakai, Bukomansimbi, Kalungu, and Kalangala, with Ssembabule District being the focus in 2025.
Mulindwa noted that during earlier visits, the team realized inmates deeply need encouragement and human connection. He said the program aims to show prisoners that they are not alone, that they are remembered, prayed for, and supported, so they can serve their sentences with hope and rebuild their lives upon release.
The outreach program is led by the Catholic Men’s Guild of Masaka Diocese, whose mission is to bring men closer to God, discourage criminal behavior, promote hard work, and support responsible parenting while also providing essential items to those in need.
