Angella Katatumba’s brother Rugiirwa shares his prison experience, meeting with Nubian Li, Eddie Mutwe, Kanyamunyu

My one day and night at Kitalya Prison

From Buganda Road Court where I was summoned on Wednesday the 27th January, after the reading of my case, I was taken to Kitalya Prison on Remand.

Somehow I was a bit excited to experience Prison, more so after watching movies and Series about Prisons, etc.

Eight of us were bundled into a Police Van and whisked away at breakneck speed on Mitiyana Road up to Kitalya Prison.

On arrival, I was impressed with the newly built premises, football, volleyball and basketball courts, and very clean and welcoming Officers.

We were received, given the famous Yellow Uniforms and taken to our Ward 4 Unit 3 where we were greeted as new inmates and joined 211 inmates to make 219. I remember because the numbers were written on the wall.

As we joined them I was lucky to be called by some VIP members to join their corner. I think my size sold me out as being one of them.

I have been totally impressed by the discipline of the prisoners and of their various ranks in each Ward from Chairman, Katikiro, RP, Police, RP Water, Doctor, RP Toilets.

These guys were so organised in how they managed their day to day lives at the Prison.

When the Guards enter our Ward to do “Fallen” where by all inmates squat 2 by 2 on the floor facing each other and then we are counted.

The guards would then ask the RP leaders who remained standing. Any complaints. I was amazed that the first complaint was from an inmate who said he didn’t eat lunch because he doesn’t eat sweet potatoes.

The second complaint was from another inmate who joked that for him he eats and doesn’t get satisfied. Everyone burst out laughing.

Then the Doctor would mention those who were sick and needed medical attention.

So, basically the rights of every inmate were listened to and taken seriously.

After that, we relaxed. Some played cards, drafts, etc in the Ward and slept off around 8pm on mattresses and blankets.

The toilets were extremely clean. There were 4 toilets and 4 showers. The RP Toilet was responsible of cleaning the toilets as his assistant would hold the door to manage the numbers entering.

After the first night sleep the next morning was the same Fallen and then inmates would clean and organise the Ward and get ready for breakfast which was a very BIG bowl of porridge with no sugar.

Then we were free to mingle in the quardrangle and chat to other inmates.

There, I met some high profile inmates from Nubian Li and Eddie Mutwe and their colleagues who were caught in “the struggle”. They were happy to talk to me and we discussed each other’s cases.

Later, when I got into the system I was taken by a friend, an RP of some ward, who has access to the whole Prison. I asked him to take me to see Kanyamunyu. I went to see him in the isolation wing. He was very happy to see me. We chatted.

All inmates ate a very Heavy Lunch which was boiled sweet potatoes and beans. The inmates would rush to form a queue to get food. Some VIPs would have some food cooked for them: pilau, matooke, meat, chicken etc.

There was also a TV room where by the main programmes were Agataliko Nfuufu and Wrestling. I didn’t bother to enter as it was packed with inmates.

The same day my bail was being processed by my Lawyer Julius Turinawe and I was received, released and driven home.