Wells of hope with the support of its partners has managed to help prisoners who are living with HIV/AIDS. On the 11th of May 2007 ,15th June 2007 and 21st June 2007. We reached out to prisoners in four prisons, that is the women prisons, Murchison bay, Upper prisons all located in Luzira,Kampala and Jinja Main Prison. Our team included the following volunteers-Ms. Mirembe Rachael,Mr. Ssuubi Francis, Mr. Simwende Emmanuel Ceaser,-Ms. Hamala Juliet and Mrs Ssuubi Ellen Eva.

During our visit we donated food supplements to prisoners living with HIV/AIDS which included 600kgs of High protein maize flour, 150Kgs of Sugar. We also offered psychosocial support through counselling and teaching in a seminar.
52 inmates whose HIV status is not known were reached at Murchison bay and 120 inmates at Luzira women prison mainly for prevention purposes.
In our visit we conducted a seminar, during which A resource book titled a challenge to fight HIV/AIDS (donated by The Bible Society Uganda) was used and a total of 177 books were given to the inmates and prison officers. We also gave out tracts explaining the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

On the 21st June 2007,we donated 400kgs of high protein maize flour and 50kgs of sugar,we also had an opportunity to conduct a psycho-social support session through couselling and spiritual support.

On our way through life we don’t know what is going to happen to us . For the man in the Good Samaritan story, the journey from Jerusalem to Jericho turned out to be catastrophic. If he had known beforehand what was going to happen he would have taken a different direction or another day for the journey because on the way he met robbers who beat him almost to death.

People who have or who are likely to acquire HIV/AIDS find themselves in a similar situation and need to be loved and cared for.
This challenges everyone to fight HIV/AIDS without stigmatizing any one and to stop judging the infected and affected persons.

During the sessions, the inmates formed four groups that discussed and acted out the drama of the Good Samaritan. The discussion was centered on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and handling stigma.
It was awesome to study the word of God together, sitting down with the men in the prisons; we discussed the word of God in relation to the biggest problem that is rocking our world today, which is HIV/AIDS.
Key Issues we considered include;
• What is HIV/AIDS and how is it spread?
• Did God create the HIV virus?
• Is HIV/AIDS a punishment for sin?
• Is it HIV/AIDS a curse?
• Are suffering people worse sinners than others
• What should be our response towards the HIV/AIDS pandemic?

Who has the right to condemn others?
As Wells of hope we have decided to use this approach as we take the word of God to people in Uganda’s prisons.

The prisoners were able to talk and express themselves; these are some of their responses.
• One inmate said that, out of being imprisoned with all that they go through he has come to know who God is, and if he was out here he wouldn’t have had a chance to know who He is.
• Another inmate said he has come to know the value of his wife which he would not have known if he was out. She has been there for him, she has looked after their children and home, and he used to take her for granted.
• Another inmate said he has come to know the value of friendship and close relationship which he has gained by having good relationships with fellow inmates who have become like brothers and more than friends.
• One inmate mentioned that his life has completely changed he is not the same person who committed so many crimes instead he is a regenerated person such that even when he goes out he is going to lead a very different life a life that is worthy living.

Relating it to their situation some in mates were quick to say that many people have alienated them saying that they are criminals who do not deserve any sympathy. Some of them have been neglected by their families who have deliberately refused to visit them in the prison.

It was also noted that there are homosexual habits which some in-mates indulge themselves in and the seminar we conducted was vital to help such in-mates change and be saved from the risks and dangers that come with this habit.

The inmates whom we have trained will be able to reach out to other inmates with the same message; we will give them resource material to help them conduct small in-house seminars in their respective wards (rooms where they sleep)

We hope to carry out more psycho-social support and follow up.
Scripture references employed during our sessions with the in-mates
• John 8.3-11
• Job 19.13-27
• Luke 10.25-37
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