ONC’s Hajjat Namyalo Extends Ramadan Relief To Kitalya Inmates

By Gad Masereka

The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, on Wednesday delivered Ramadan relief to Muslim inmates at Kitalya Maximum Security Prison, bringing a message of faith, discipline and renewal during the holy month.

Hajjat Namyalo said she had been sent by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to extend solidarity and practical support to inmates observing Ramadan, stressing that no community should feel forgotten during sacred seasons. Essential food items were handed over in the presence of prison authorities and Muslim clerics as inmates gathered in orderly lines.

Addressing the inmates, she commended those who had embraced prayer, discipline and spiritual reform. She reminded them that Ramadan is rooted in patience and self control, virtues she said remain relevant long after the fasting period ends. She encouraged them to treat their time in custody as an opportunity for personal transformation, noting that sentences are finite but character endures.

She further pledged to present to the President concerns raised by long serving inmates, particularly those who have demonstrated good conduct and did not commit capital offences. The possibility of pardon, she said, would depend on established legal processes, but she undertook to ensure their voices are heard.

Beyond immediate relief, the discussion turned to life after prison. Hajjat Namyalo revealed plans for the Office of the National Chairman to work with relevant authorities to expand vocational training at the facility. She said equipping inmates with practical skills would enable them to rebuild their lives with dignity upon release and reduce the risk of reoffending.

The Officer in Charge of Kitalya Mini Max, SP Hassan Walangalira, welcomed the outreach and described it as a morale booster for inmates during Ramadan.

He noted that tailoring and welding programmes are already underway at the prison but expressed the need to introduce carpentry training to broaden opportunities. Hajjat Namyalo responded that her office would engage the appropriate government bodies to explore that possibility.

Earlier in the day, the outreach extended to students at YMCA Comprehensive Institute, where food packages were delivered to support those fasting while pursuing their studies. Represented by Hajji Issa Lutalo, Hajjat Namyalo conveyed a message of unity and perseverance, affirming that young people remain central to national development and should be supported both spiritually and materially.

He also announced plans for a special Iftar dinner scheduled for March 10, 2026, aimed at fostering reflection and solidarity among Muslim faithful. Students welcomed the assistance, describing it as timely relief that would ease the demands of balancing academic work with fasting.

The engagements at Kitalya and YMCA form part of a wider Ramadan initiative that has seen the Office of the National Chairman reach out to vulnerable groups across the country.

In prison yards and school compounds alike, the message remained consistent that faith, discipline and opportunity must go hand in hand if lives are to be rebuilt and communities strengthened.