Kirinya, Jinja’s water prison
Feb 15, 2008
TO most people it is just a natural hill overlooking Jinja town where the Government decided to set up a reformatory for convicts. However, this rise on which Kirinya Prison sits is actually artificial. Some people, who have never been there, hear of a prison in water and imagine that the prisoners
By George Bita
in Jinja
TO most people it is just a natural hill overlooking Jinja town where the Government decided to set up a reformatory for convicts. However, this rise on which Kirinya Prison sits is actually artificial. Some people, who have never been there, hear of a prison in water and imagine that the prisoners stand in water, or that the building was erected in the lake.
History has it that the jail was first located near present day Jinja Secondary School but the then rampant prison breaks prompted the residents to communally assemble the current hill on Napoleon gulf of Lake Victoria in 1922.
It is on this simulated ‘hill’ surrounded by a water channel to thwart any attempts of escape, that jailbirds serve their sentences ranging from a few years to life including some who are on death row.
Needless to say, many people first get to this prison after being convicted of a heinous crime or visiting an inmate.
But then this is one place worth touring. One gets an opportunity to look at a panoramic view of Jinja.
This only-one-of-its-kind view includes looking at the urban setting right from Bugembe trading centre in the east up to Hotel Triangle on the western fringes of town.
Stepping on this hilly island is the only way one can appreciate the fact that it is a human creation as the awkwardly detached marshy water channel and rocky hill speak volumes.
What to do on the hill depends on one’s status. A prisoner will rarely enjoy the beautiful landscape except the chill of the Lake Victoria waters. Visitors on the other hand watch a couple of water birds including herons, fishermen and that eye-catching uninterruptible sight of Jinja.
Within the confines of the four-storey apartment accessed via a single, old grey wooden door manned by mean-looking security guards, money and mobile telephones are a taboo.
Blankets are a key asset here, considering the inevitable lake instigated chilly conditions and these dangle from each window during the day to trap enough warmth to last the night.
Most wellwishers go ahead to donate the much-cherished blankets to the prisoners, which are gladly received although in the Oliver Twist style of, ‘could we have some more.’
Prisoners, clad mostly in white and yellow have seemingly one request to make: “Be our voice outside these old grey walls and tell society how remorseful we are.â€
The Rev. Robert Gwebawaira, Kirinya Prisons chaplain says the complex comprises of three independent institutions.
“Jinja Main has a total of 615 inmates, of whom 290, including 14 females are on death row.
“The Remand Detention Centre has 659 while the female prison has 35 prisoners plus five children,†Gwebawaira says.
He says many of the convicts have turned to God and spend most of their time in praise and worship.
James Eisu, the commanding officer at Jinja Main Prison says inmates portray a general image of an apologetic batch of persons seeking forgiveness at all costs.
“Their discipline is okay and they are not troublesome. I think the society outside only needs to understand these convicts’ resolve on repentance,†Eisu says.
Gwebawaira says the doors of the penitentiary are open to especially counsellors and preachers who could visit and help cement the relationship between the prisoners and their God.
According to him, it is the prayer of those on death row to have the death sentence revoked as the trend is in some countries.
Bishop Michael Kyomya of Busoga Diocese says: “I hope all Christians in the region come here to visit and see God’s mighty work on this hill.â€
in Jinja
TO most people it is just a natural hill overlooking Jinja town where the Government decided to set up a reformatory for convicts. However, this rise on which Kirinya Prison sits is actually artificial. Some people, who have never been there, hear of a prison in water and imagine that the prisoners stand in water, or that the building was erected in the lake.
History has it that the jail was first located near present day Jinja Secondary School but the then rampant prison breaks prompted the residents to communally assemble the current hill on Napoleon gulf of Lake Victoria in 1922.
It is on this simulated ‘hill’ surrounded by a water channel to thwart any attempts of escape, that jailbirds serve their sentences ranging from a few years to life including some who are on death row.
Needless to say, many people first get to this prison after being convicted of a heinous crime or visiting an inmate.
But then this is one place worth touring. One gets an opportunity to look at a panoramic view of Jinja.
This only-one-of-its-kind view includes looking at the urban setting right from Bugembe trading centre in the east up to Hotel Triangle on the western fringes of town.
Stepping on this hilly island is the only way one can appreciate the fact that it is a human creation as the awkwardly detached marshy water channel and rocky hill speak volumes.
What to do on the hill depends on one’s status. A prisoner will rarely enjoy the beautiful landscape except the chill of the Lake Victoria waters. Visitors on the other hand watch a couple of water birds including herons, fishermen and that eye-catching uninterruptible sight of Jinja.
Within the confines of the four-storey apartment accessed via a single, old grey wooden door manned by mean-looking security guards, money and mobile telephones are a taboo.
Blankets are a key asset here, considering the inevitable lake instigated chilly conditions and these dangle from each window during the day to trap enough warmth to last the night.
Most wellwishers go ahead to donate the much-cherished blankets to the prisoners, which are gladly received although in the Oliver Twist style of, ‘could we have some more.’
Prisoners, clad mostly in white and yellow have seemingly one request to make: “Be our voice outside these old grey walls and tell society how remorseful we are.â€
The Rev. Robert Gwebawaira, Kirinya Prisons chaplain says the complex comprises of three independent institutions.
“Jinja Main has a total of 615 inmates, of whom 290, including 14 females are on death row.
“The Remand Detention Centre has 659 while the female prison has 35 prisoners plus five children,†Gwebawaira says.
He says many of the convicts have turned to God and spend most of their time in praise and worship.
James Eisu, the commanding officer at Jinja Main Prison says inmates portray a general image of an apologetic batch of persons seeking forgiveness at all costs.
“Their discipline is okay and they are not troublesome. I think the society outside only needs to understand these convicts’ resolve on repentance,†Eisu says.
Gwebawaira says the doors of the penitentiary are open to especially counsellors and preachers who could visit and help cement the relationship between the prisoners and their God.
According to him, it is the prayer of those on death row to have the death sentence revoked as the trend is in some countries.
Bishop Michael Kyomya of Busoga Diocese says: “I hope all Christians in the region come here to visit and see God’s mighty work on this hill.â€