Kitalya, Wakiso: The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), SPA/PA Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has urged inmates to remain disciplined and committed to personal reform, while pledging to petition President Yoweri Museveni for possible pardons, especially for long-serving prisoners.
Hajjat Namyalo made the remarks on Wednesday during a Ramadan outreach at Kitalya Mini Max Prison in Wakiso District, where she delivered relief items to Muslim inmates observing the holy month.
Addressing the inmates, she emphasized the importance of faith, patience, and transformation. “Ramadan teaches patience, discipline and self-control. Use this period for reflection and prepare yourselves to return to society as better and responsible citizens,” she said, reminding them that incarceration is temporary and urged them to use their time in custody productively.
Hajjat Namyalo revealed that she would forward inmates’ concerns to President Museveni and request consideration for clemency, particularly for those who have served lengthy sentences and demonstrated good conduct.
“We shall request His Excellency to consider pardoning those who have been here for many years, completed their punishment and shown discipline and reform,” she added.
Hajjat also cautioned youths outside prison, especially those engaged in criminal activities in urban ghettos, to avoid actions that lead to incarceration. “Prison is not a place anyone should aspire to. Young people must remain disciplined and focus on building productive lives,” she warned.
She also revealed plans by the Office of the National Chairman to coordinate with relevant authorities to expand vocational training programs at the prison. The initiative, according to Hajjat, aims to equip inmates with practical skills they can use to earn a livelihood during incarceration and after release.
SP Walangalira Hassan, the Officer-in-Charge of Kitalya Mini Max Prison, welcomed the outreach and thanked ONC for remembering inmates during Ramadan, noting that the support would boost morale among fasting prisoners.
He noted that the facility has already introduced tailoring and welding programs but expressed the need to expand into carpentry training, a proposal Hajjat Namyalo pledged to support.
Prison officials said the donation would ease the burden on fasting Muslim inmates and uplift morale during Ramadan.
Earlier in the day, ONC extended Ramadan support to Muslim students at YMCA Comprehensive Institute. Hajjat, represented by Hajji Issa Lutalo, preached unity, faith, and perseverance to students as they strive to balance academic responsibilities with fasting.
Hajj Issa also announced that ONC is organizing a special Iftar dinner scheduled for March 10, 2026, to foster unity and reflection among Muslim faithful, with the YMCA community expected to receive formal invitations.
The visit forms part of ONC’s broader Ramadan initiative spearheaded by Hajjat Namyalo, targeting inmates, students, and vulnerable Muslim communities across the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
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