Convicted on 10th
December 2013, Opio Boniface commonly referred to as “Bonny” by his fellow
inmates at Kole Uganda Government Prison; reveals that the community based human
rights advocates (CBHRAs) under African Prisons Project (APP) have transformed
his life since he was admitted at the prison. APP is an IDF grantee
implementing the project “Promotion of the rights of access to justice and healthcare
of prisoners in Oyam and Apac districts”. The project that aims at
improving
the prison environment to one that respects and promotes prisoners’ rights uses
CBHRAs and Village Health Teams (VHTs) as focal persons.
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| A photo of Bonny at Kole Prison |
The focal
persons are both community based persons and prison officers, trained and
charged with sensitizing and educating prisoners on their rights and the
justice system. They also engage with and interest the prison authorities to
observe and promote the same.
Serving a sentence of thirty six
(36) months for theft and burglary charges, Bonny does not regret his time at
Kole prison. He is rather grateful for the learning about his rights and the
justice system that he has gotten from the CBHRAs, and the support/guidance he
has been able to extend to his fellow in-mates in return. His only wish is if
he had met the CBHRAs before his conviction maybe then they would have helped
him to apply for bail and bring his case to a better conclusion.
“I wish i had met the CBHRAs when i was still
on remand, they could have helped me to apply for bail because I did not
understand what was required of me at that time, nevertheless i am still a
happy man because they have given me courage and hope during my time in prison.
The CBHRAs have taught me a lot about justice, the Justice System and Human
rights most especially the rights of prisoners. I am certain this information
will still be useful to me even after i leave this place in December 2014; but
in the meantime, i am using the information and knowledge acquired from the sessions
and I.E.C materials to advise my fellow inmates who are still on remand and yet
have no idea of Court proceedings on what they can do to secure bail” Bonny
notes.
Bonny further reveals that the I.E.C
materials have completely changed his thinking, enhanced his knowledge and
confidence to handle life’s situations. It is this same confidence and
voluntary guidance that have earned him a new title as head of prison – usually
referred to as ‘Mukulu Boma. “Some of the reading materials have
completely changed my life; I now have no fear because I am an informed man. My
fellow in-mates saw this in me and entrusted me to head them; being Mukulu Boma
is a big task but i am not afraid. I just hope i can use my leadership position
to sensitize and help more inmates and also work with the authorities to
improve the living environment, and, welfare of the in-mates and report to
authorities cases of rights violations amongst inmates” Bonny remarks.
Opio Boniface is grateful to
African Prisons Project for training the prison staff as CBHRAs and to the CBHRAs
for their support. His wish is that this initiative can be implemented in other
prisons to benefit other in-mates all over Uganda. Available project reports
indicate that this project is steadily causing improvement
in the welfare of inmates and facilitating increased access to justice, promotion
and observance of prisoner rights in Oyam and Apac districts.
Apparently some
prison officers are considering lobbying the line Ministry to replicate this
best practice in other government prisons.
