African Prisons Project

As I review the past year I find myself surprised by how much has happened, how much APP has developed and how much I have learnt and changed.

I am grateful for the salary and expenses that Vodafone gave me for the past year. This financial support has allowed me to direct the African Prisons Project without wondering how I’ll be able to support myself and has given me the chance to make many new contacts and spread the word about the work we do.

Our activities in health, education and access to justice have all developed. We are soon to complete an inpatient health centre in Northern Uganda which amongst other things will allow prisoners and wardresses to give birth in dignity and will provide treatment to thousands of people each year. We have provided total care to dozens of inmates in the government hospital some of whom were still children, many of them died, but all of them experienced dignity and love. Our educational projects are blossoming, with hundreds of inmates every week benefiting from our libraries, literacy classes, reading groups, art, drama, music and sports activities. In terms of legal aid we have provided legal education to hundreds of inmates, in order that they might more effectively prepare their cases for court. We have assisted with preparing many death penalty cases for court. Working as inmates’ advocates in court we have assisted inmates such as a 21 year old Robert with aids, cancer, tuberculosis and liver disease, waiting for a trial for over five and a half months after being accused of stealing bananas, get released from prison in order that he could be at home with his family in the two days before he died. These are just a few of the areas we have worked on.
We have developed in our administration. We have been joined by new trustees and have many new procedures and protocols in place to allow us to serve inmates more effectively. I have developed tremendously as a leader and now think much more strategically.
I thank God for all that we have been able to achieve this year and Vodafone for the helping hand that they have given some of the most marginalized and vulnerable people in society through the African Prisons Project. We look forward to more growth in order that we can bring even more ‘dignity and hope to men, women and children in prison in sub Saharan Africa, from birth to death, through health, education and access to justice’.