Why the Wakanda Dinner

This was a report to the Members of the Rotary Club of Kampala North about a Joint Project which the baby Rotaract Clubs of Kampala North had started

Disciplined and Clean are probably the words that can be used to describe the Women’s Prison in Luzira. While one’s mental picture of a prison will probably be that of gnashing of teeth, hard labour and misery, this is far from true at the Ladies Prison. Ladies? Yes, ladies. Regardless of why they are in gaol, these ladies are quite disciplined and one can literally sit on any part of the well cleaned cement floors that have been meticulously scrubbed. Their decorum, orderliness and tidy apparel is quite humbling. Kudos to the leadership and well organised regime of the Uganda Prison’s Services. 

We couldn’t help but notice, that even the OC Prisons was very particular about her floor, choosing to walk barefooted rather than mess them up. Using the social capital of Rtn. Pablo Yagayo Kimuli, we were able to access the Womens Prisons without hussle. 

A few months earlier, had earlier visited the Prison to carry out a needs assessment so as tondetermine how we – the Rotary Club of Kampaka North and its baby Rotaract Clubs - would make a meaningful contribution into the life of the ladies under incarceration. We would later  follow this visit with another one  which targeted the elderly ladies and those who are  rarely visited  by either friend or family. 

Now, under the watchful eye of Rtn. Sarah Bagalaliwo, whose wisdom and caution enabled our enthusiastic guests to navigate through the strict code of conduct at the Prison

(lest some stayed behind), we finally were able to access the mothers and their babies in prison.

As Jajja (as we fondly refer to Rtn. Sarah) noted to our hosts, our visit was part of the Joint Baby Club Project of the Rotaract Clubs which were birthed by  Kampala North. We identified Luzira Women’s Prison and zeroed on  building more lavatories  for the lady inmates, starting with VIP latrines and later on going into flash water toilets. 

However, much as that need was given priority due ti the fact that there are currently four cubicles to service over 540 inmates including about 33 children,  we also noted that  there would be interventions specifically for the mothers with children, inmates with prolonged or problematic court cases, promoting primary education and secondary education (the latter study under trees) sentences, health and nutrition needs, etc.

 In essence, the bigger goal is for the adoption of the  Women’s Prison as one would a village like Siriba.  This vision will be shared at the Wakanda themed Fundraising Dinner to be held on the 14th of December 2018. Reader, please make it a date to be with us on that day. 

So, there we were, moving through the strict security protocol at the gate, heading to meet with the very amiable OC (officer in charge) who gave us a briefing about their work of rehabilitation of offenders, and then finally we went to meet and greet the Nakaweres and their  babies. 

It is humbling, and indeed gives alot of room for introspection when one sees these very obedient women dressed in their yellow fatigues, babies in hand, walking up to the room. As many of us reached out our hands to carry the little ones,  while others handed over some of the goodies we received, the room was suddenly filled with joy, happy banter and warmth. The mothers maintained their disciplined  stance and warmly responded to the show of love and care from the rotaractors and guests from Makerere University School of Law Christian Fellowship. After the visit, we had aa debriefing session where Jajja Sarah, who belongs to the Great Kikoni buddy group (yipee), words of wisdom and encouragement on how to make our joint project worthwhile. 

We shall continue to discuss this at the Retreat with Rotarians from Mother Club which will be held on the 17th of November 2018 at the Stanbic Bank Innovation Hub Kololo. In a special way, I would like to  give special thanks to Nurse Gertrude of Malcom Health  Care Kisaasi who immediately gave to the cause once we told her about it. 

Rtn Daniel Ruhweza

Youth Chair

2018/19