Condemned Prisoners Seek Pardon

By James OdongCONDEMNED prisoners in Luzira have appealed to the visiting Bishop of Wales Dr. Rowan Williams to convince the government to forgive them since they have already repented.The prisoners presented a memorandum to Rowan during his visit to the condemned section in the upper prison on Monday amid songs of praise. Rowan prayed for and comforted the prisoners saying they represented the image of God. “You are representing the image of God and that is why you should not lose hope because whatever your circumstances, God is always with you,” he said as the prisoners chorused ‘alleluia praise be to the Lord.’The former prime minister of Toro, John Katuramu, who is among the estimated 300 condemned prisoners, however, did not come out to meet Rowan.“He normally comes out but this time I don’t know what happened to him,” said a prison officer who attended the special prayers. Rowan was conducted around the prison by the assistant commissioner of prisons, Kururagyire Jack Wycliff who represented the commissioner general of prisons, Joseph Etima who is reportedly out of the country.The communications officer in the Church of Uganda, the Rev. Dr. Jackson Turyagenda and the OC upper prisons, Henry Tugume, were also present.Tugume barred The New Vision reporter and photographer from covering the function in the condemned section.Ends