Release Rwakasisi --Nkoyooyo

By Nicholas Kajoba THE Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Dr Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyooyo, has appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to pardon former minister for security in Obote II government, Chris Rwakasisi, on death row for more than 10 years. Nkoyooyo, on pastoral visit to Luzira Upper Prison’s condemned section on Sunday, also pleaded for Hajji Muhammad Birikadde and other prisoners who have also been in detention for over a decade. He said, “I appeal to President Yoweri Museveni to pardon people like Rwakasisi and others who have stayed on death row for more than ten years.” The prelate held a service at the condemned section. At least 151 inmates on remand in Murchison Bay, Upper Prison, and the women’s section, received their first holy communion. The condemned and remand sections’ choirs for both Catholics and Protestants sung at the service. Nkoyooyo also prayed with the former premier of Toro Kingdom, John Katuramu, murder convicts Sharma Kooky and brother Davindar Kumar, Jackson Wavamunno and Brig. Ali Fadhul, a former governor in Idi Amin’s government. Rwakasisi and Birikadde, on death row for 23 years, attended the service. Nkoyooyo laid his hands on each of the convicts as he prayed for them. Rwakasisi, who heads religious affairs in the condemned section, had private talks with Nkoyooyo for over three minutes in the office of the OC Luzira Upper Prison. Nkoyooyo was guided around the institution by the officer-in-charge, Henry Tugume, and the assistant commissioner for administration, Mr. Jack Karugire. About 300 inmates are on life sentences and death row in Luzira. Rwakasisi was sentenced to death in 1988 by the late Justice Ignatius Mukanza for kidnap with intent to murder. While appearing on Greater African Radio, Mbarara, two years ago, President Museveni said Rwakasisi would not be hanged but remain in prison as long as he (Museveni) is in office. Nkoyooyo pledged to donate a television set to the condemned section. He said Rwakasisi and others on death row had reformed and deserved pardon. “I appeal to President Museveni to pardon people like Rwakasisi and other prisoners who have stayed for long on death row because they have reformed,” he said. Nkoyooyo said some inmates might be in prison due to failures in the Judicial and Police processes. He appealed to the prisoners to behave well and avoid rioting so that they may be pardoned in future. “Do not lose hope now. Behave well and have hope in God. People like Abdallah Nasur (former Amin governor for Central Region) were released after more than fifteen years in prison,” he said. He advised the prisoners to pray hard so that when they are released they don’t commit crimes that may take them back to prison. Nkoyooyo also condemned corruption in the country, saying the church is committed to fighting it. Rwakasisi, who is now a born-again Christian, said he had reformed and repented for his sins. “I have repented for my sins and I ask President Yoweri Museveni to pardon me,” he said.