Nakasongola Prison Visit
By Quinn Semakula
Note: No photographs or videos, or phones were allowed in the prison. Photo is from the bus ride on the way there.
As one who’d never visited a prison before, the Nakasongola Prison was a very eye opening experience to both me and my friends. From the moment those big prison gates were opened, I decided in my mind that I’d avoid any form of eye contact with those inmates just so I could protect myself.
Moreover, I knew that this protective measure was wrong and in that moment I heard the voice of God and felt the spirit of the Lord compelling me to life my head, look up, and see. And from that minute to the time we left, all I felt was a deep love for those inmates. As I looked in their eyes and analyzed the environment they were in, I couldn’t stop or hold back the tears welling up in my eyes. Part of me felt angry, frustrated because of the reality they had to contend with as captives, but I felt even more disappointed in our justice system because it was then that I realized that the pharaohs of my world have created a modernized Egypt where these children of God now have to live unheard, forgotten, and caged up like animals.
Mr. Garner said in one of our Bible study times with him that “Human beings weren’t made for captivity.” Nonetheless, even with this gut-wrenching experience, I was more surprised and amazed at how the inmates could still praise God. They were literally having their chapel time when we arrived and they had such incredible joy with every song they sang. Even as they received words of encouragement from Mr. Garner, I was brought to more tears by the fact they were reading their Bibles during that time, taking notes, and taking the initiative to be changed by the Word.
As I keep hoping for the justice of the Lord to be done, I now know that the feelings of inadequacy, helplessness, shame, and anger I had in that moment should be countered with me responding to God’s call and as I develop compassion, empathy, accompany those emotions with a much-needed development of leadership skills and laboring capacities. God has revealed to me teh steps I need to take to change the lives of those babies living with their mothers in prison, the teenagers, children, and youth whose stories have been told and defined by our broken systems. Becoming an agent of education, advocacy, and empowerment for such people groups is going to take a lot, but I know that God works over the course of time and soon I’ll be able to work with my friends to bring about the change that God wants to see in our world.