Govt asked to give psychological support to ex-convicts

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About two decades ago, Korina Abur, a 38-year-old mother of three in Tori sub-county, Agago district in northern Uganda, was incarcerated for 15 years in Luzira women’s prison, accused of killing her husband, Tobia Okot, after a quarrel. After 11 years and four months of imprisonment, she was released.

Abur said when she went back to the community, she found it changed in many ways and only a handful of people could remember her. Even her children had since been taken away to live with their father’s relatives.

“I have not seen my children; my family has also rejected me. I miss my children. They are the only ones who can trust me again,” she said, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

To make matters worse, she found her house demolished, land sold and parents dead.

“It’s only my brother who is trying to help me, but that is not enough. All I need is to talk to my children,” she said.

Abur said her husband’s relatives have refused to let her meet the children.

What Abur is going through is just the tip of the iceberg.

John Kwemba, a 50-year-old father of 14 and husband of three wives, was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a woman in Nabiganda town council, Butaleja district.

However, Kwemba, who was 31 at the time of his sentence, was released from Luzira Upper Prison last year. To date, he maintains his innocence and insists that he did not commit the crime for which he was convicted, something that psychologically haunts him. 

“During my conviction at the High Court in Tororo, I thought my world had ended. My children were very young and one of my wives was two months pregnant,” Kwemba said.

When he returned to the village, he found his family scattered. His wives had remarried. Two of the wives, however, managed to return to him.

“One of my children got married at 15 years. I break down whenever I think about them. I always cry when I see my children in such a sad state,” Kwemba said.

Out of 14 children, Kwemba is the only one who managed to get a diploma in pharmacy.

The two ex-convicts recently spoke at an event organised by the Wells of Hope Ministries at Kampala Kolping Hotel. Wells of Hope Ministries is a nonprofit Christian organisation based in Kampala that cares for children of inmates.

Two of Kwemba’s children were helped by the Wells of Hope Ministries, and they are now in Senior Five.

Kwemba wants the Government to support prisoners in and after jail. He said most inmates serving long sentences are troubled and need psychosocial support.

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Francis Ssuubi, the founder of Wells of Hope Ministries, said most of the ex-convicts are challenged by systematic barriers like education and getting jobs.

Jessica Naugles, a social worker from the US, said being an ex-convict is close to losing everything. She shared her personal experience, saying her mother struggled to fend for the family after her father’s imprisonment.

She requested the Government to provide psychological support to prisoners, especially first-time offenders.

Sarah Bireete, the executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, said most of the inmates suffer from mental stress and when released, they can become a challenge to the community.