By Frank Kamuntu
The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has Wednesday, February 25, extended Ramadan relief packages to fasting Muslim inmates at Kitalya Maximum Security Prison, urging them to remain steadfast in faith and disciplined during and after the holy month.
Hajjat Namyalo said she had been sent by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to deliver the relief items as part of a broader gesture of compassion and solidarity with Muslim inmates observing Ramadan.
Addressing the inmates, Hajjat Namyalo commended them for dedicating themselves to Allah during the sacred month of Ramadan, emphasizing that spiritual reflection, repentance, patience, and discipline remain essential regardless of one’s circumstances.
“You have chosen to put Allah first during this holy month. That is a noble decision. Ramadan teaches patience, discipline, and self-control, values that remain important even beyond this period,” she said.
She reminded the inmates that prison sentences are temporary and encouraged them to use their time in custody for personal transformation and spiritual growth.
“Prison time expires. Remain patient, remain disciplined, and prepare yourselves to return to society as better and responsible citizens,” she added.
Hajjat Namyalo further pledged to engage the President on the possibility of pardoning some inmates who have served long sentences, particularly those who did not commit capital offences.
On skills development, she revealed that the Office of the National Chairman will coordinate with relevant government offices to expand vocational training programs within the prison.
The goal, she said, is to equip inmates with hands-on skills that can enable them to earn a living both while in prison and after their release.
SP Hassan Walangalira, the Officer-in-Charge of Kitalya Prison Mini Max, lauded the Office of the National Chairman for choosing Kitalya for the Ramadan outreach.
He noted that the facility has already introduced tailoring and welding programs but highlighted the need to expand into carpentry training, a proposal Hajjat Namyalo pledged to support by working closely with relevant authorities.
Prison officials welcomed the donation, saying the support would ease the burden on fasting Muslim inmates and boost their morale during Ramadan.
Hajjat Namyalo delivered the relief items alongside prominent Muslim clerics, including Sheikh Erias Kigozi, Sheikh Ibrahim Kinyenya, and Hajji Issa Lutalo, among others.
Meanwhile, before proceeding to Kitalya, the Office of the National Chairman had intensified its customary Ramadan outreach by extending support to Muslim students at YMCA Comprehensive Institute.
At YMCA, Hajjat Namyalo was represented by Hajji Issa Lutalo, who delivered food items to students observing the holy month and conveyed her message of faith, unity, and perseverance.
He reaffirmed her commitment to standing with young people, particularly students balancing academic responsibilities with fasting, noting that the outreach reflects the continued guidance of President Museveni in promoting inclusivity and support for vulnerable communities across the country.
He also reiterated that the Office of the National Chairman is organizing a special Iftar dinner scheduled for March 10, 2026, as part of its continued Ramadan engagements. The YMCA community, he said, will in due course receive an official invitation to participate in the dinner, which is intended to foster unity, reflection, and solidarity among Muslim faithful during the holy month.
The students welcomed the gesture with appreciation, describing it as timely support that would ease their observance of Ramadan while pursuing their studies.
The outreach at Kitalya and YMCA is part of a broader Ramadan initiative through which Hajjat Namyalo has been distributing food packages to various Muslim communities, including students and other vulnerable groups, as a gesture of solidarity and compassion during the holy month.
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