Notes from: Tuesday April 3, 2012

 We arranged to visit a local prison today.  Yesterday we purchased some supplies to take to the prison knowing that they are in pretty rough shape.  we brought blankets, sleeping mats, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, medicine for scabies and anti inflamatories, and a radio. 

We were told there were 60 prisoners but there are probably close to 80 staying here.  The officers may not have given us an accurate count for fear that we'd expose overcrowding in their prison.

 This is Pastor Timothy who has been a big help in getting into remote villages and making arrangements to visit this prison.  Many of the prisoners are being detained on charges because they would not pay bribes to the police.  Others are being held on legitimate grounds for a variety of offenses. 

 This is the men's dormatory.  As you can see it is lacking in just about every area including beds or mats.  It was difficult to determine exactly how many were staying in this one room but our best guess is that around 65-70 men sleep here every night.  It is approximately 25ft. by 15ft.  The reason it's hard to know is because while we visited there were 55 prisoners present but there were approximately 25 others who were out digging trenches which is how prisoners are used in Uganda so we didn't see them all.

 This is the room where the women prisoners sleep.  There were 7 women imprisoned and most of them had children including young babies.  All of them slept in this room which was about 15ft. by 10ft.

 The man in white is the Officer in Charge of local prisons.  The man in blue is in charge of this particular prison.  The guy in yellow is a pastor who is the leader amongst the prisoners but he also is a prisoner.  I didn't get his story but he led the men in singing and praying and was asking for bibles in Luganda.

 Lillian (GIVE staff) and I amongst the prisoners after they received soap and toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Some of the ladies and their babies. 

It was humbling in just about every way to visit these prisoners.  They were very appreciative of our visit.  They sang and danced for us and had smiles on their faces despite living in dire conditions.  No latrines.  Very poor quality food (posho and beans).  No medications.  Poor water source.  No beds.  Many of whom are likely falsely imprisoned.

They asked me to speak to the men. I gave a talk on forgiveness but I've got to say that there are times in your life where you feel that things are back to front.  In this case everything in me was eager here what they would have to say rather than us doing the talking.  I stood in a sacred kind of space talking to people who have suffered more than I could ever know and yet able to have life in their spirits and hope in their hearts.  I told them that seeing their faces had a palpable effect of inspiration on me.  Here their is no room or the luxury for doubt.  I have no idea what this would be like.

I'm not really supposed to put these pictures on the internet.  The O.C. originally didn't allow us to take any photos but once he realized we weren't their to expose the conditions of the prison to the newspapers he allowed the photos but asked me not to put them on the internet. I figure there are precious few followers and no one is going to alert the Ugandan news...that's a pretty safe bet right?