East African Gazette
Mukono
Inmates asked to embrace the Mind Education training course to better their lives hence become responsible citizens upon discharge, Jongsoo Yoon the Education Director International Youth Fellowship has advised.
“You may have erred and ended up in jail but never lose hope, make good use of the rehabilitation programs offered in prison to become good people who are easily acceptable in the communities where you once lived,” Jongsoo advised inmates.
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According to Jongsoo, the six months’ program is expected to benefit over 500 inmates.
“The program offered is aimed at changing your mind set for a life after prison therefore acquiring full rehabilitation hence reducing the recidivism rate within detention facilities,” Jongsoo informed inmates.
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Recidivism is going back to bad behaviour of offending after the first conviction and discharge from prison. Currently, Uganda has the lowest recidivism rate due to its comprehensive prison rehabilitation services.
With a reoffending rate of 23%, Uganda has been ranked the best in Africa and seventh in the world, according to the African Correctional Journal and the International Criminal Journal, respectively. Uganda boasts of having in place one of the best rehabilitation programmes in Africa and ranks fourth globally.
Sarah Nalule who is serving a 20-year jail term over murder is one of the beneficiaries of this training testifies to have received true change in her hearts that she was able to reconcile with those she wronged.
“The training has enabled me to forgive and reconcile with the relatives of the person I murdered, something I did not expect to ever happen. I no longer fear returning to the community where I once lived upon discharge,” revealed Nalule.
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“Some of us came to prison because we could counter attack our desires but my prison sentence has enabled me to exercise self-control and wisdom in knowing our shortcomings. Prison has taught me to be humble as well as to communicate with others,” says Nalule.
The Mind Set Education initiative for prisons began in many other countries of the world but in Uganda plans to implement the program started in 2016 after the IYF General Secretary met the CGP to discuss the possibility of its implementation in Uganda prisons.
IYF promised to continue with the program so as to help inmates attain full rehabilitation and Prison Wardens to properly understand inmate’s emotions. He says they hope to extend the program to other prisons countrywide.