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LIVES OF CARE TAKERS CHANGED BY SMALL GRANTS-SUPPORTING INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES ::

The biggest number of people in prisons are breadwinners whose predicament has adversely affected their families and entire community. Children and spouses of prisoners living with HIV/AIDS are usually left in a vulnerable and worrying situation without any one to provide for them.Through support of our partners we are empowering families of prisoners living with HIV/AIDS through various income-generating activities by providing them with boosting capital of Sh.100,000/= each and training . Read more

There is Hope for Priscilla ::

We helped Priscilla, a Prisoner's child living with HIV/AIDS who was is sick and malnourished and left to die, This Young girl was abandoned by her mother& is +HIV is called Priscilla, Her father is a prisoner living with HIV/AIDS. Working with partners, we helped to place her in an orphanage... More

Rosette 14 years serves as a housemaid_We helped to rescue her ::

Mr and Mrs Katende were jointly charged and sentenced to two years in prison over land disputes and theft of Vanilla-this has been the only case we had were husband and wife are in jail .They were released from Prison last week and they found their daughter Rosette Nagujja(14years) had been given away by the Auntie (who has been their caretaker) to work as a part time housemaid, we helped to reconcile this young girl with her parents .read more

DECEMBER 2008 REPORT
A MEAL WITH INMATES ON DEATHROW AT CHRISTMAS TIME::
On the 20th December 2008, we crowned our activities with a meal in Death row Section of Upper Prison Luzira,Kampala.
Before the meal we had a Christmas celebration which was graced by Betty Namaganda , a local Gospel artiste who at the request of the inmates sang all her songs. The inmates danced and sang with her in celebration.

This place which is a transition for condemned inmates being prepared to face the hang man reverberated with joys and echoes of God's mercy for all the time we were there. ..More

Remembering Children of prisoners at Christmas ::

So on the 13th December 2008, we had about 60 Children come together with their guardians we held party for them and handed the gifts to them, the rest of the children also about 60 will receive their gifts as we visit them during the time when we are paying for their school fees in February this year. We do this to save on transportation costs, since these places are hidden in the villages . More

This quarter which commenced on the 1st May 2008 started off with the distribution of the welfare package to children of prisoners living with HIV/AIDS. We were able to distribute 120 blankets and mosquito nets to children of Prisoners.We delivered the mosquito nets and blankets as we were paying second term school fees. Although some of the children were able to get their package at a function we held for the children and their caretakers.

We have also paid school fees for children of prisoners this term. The children were excited with what Wells of Hope has done to change their lives.

We located most of the children and evaluated their performance. Unfortunately, some of the children could not be located since they had run away from home due to mistreatment from their relatives. One of them is Rizan, a 13-year-old girl who for a long time had been rejected by her relatives prompting her to move from one relative’s home to another. Finally her uncle, a well-known drunkard accepted to stay with her however this too was short lived. . All this happened after her uncle one day came back home very drunk and started strangling and beating her up for no reason, as a result she has since disappeared from home. Her where about are not known up to day. The school administration informed us that she had taken some time without attending school and had abandoned her new shoes at school with the head teacher. When we inquired from the uncle about what had really happened, he simply denied the whole story. To make it worse, the relatives were not bothered at all about what had happened. We will continue to look for this girl.

Maureen One of our girls was beaten by a teacher and she got a back problem, we have helped to pay for the x-ray and doctor’s consultation, the mother bought the medicines .please pray for her to get well, we decided that she changes school! Her condition is not good because she cannot stand or sit for a long time.

Besides all that, we also carried out group and individual psychosocial counseling, so far 11 caretakers accepted to go for Volunteer Testing and Counseling (VCT). This will continuously be done through out the quarters.

Please pray for Edwin, who is 7years and living with HIV/AIDS, recently he was admitted in Hospital in a critical condition, his grandmother Beatrice needs continuous support. We have connected her with Mild may centre, which will help this boy.

With the Help from Bible Society Uganda we are conducting an HIV/AIDS Good samaritan Programme in Luzira Prisons and Jinja Prisons.This Programme is aimed at addressing problems such as Prevention,handling stigma and care for the affected.It has helped prisoners to understand problems related with crime and HIv/AIDS,it has also helped Prisoners living with HIV/AIDS to cope.

Wells of Hope continues to boost the diet of prisoners living with HIV/AIDS .In this quarter which ends this month we have donated 1150kgs of High Protein maize/Soya floor .This food has helped to increase the immunity of sick prisoners,improve their lives and because HIV/AIDS is the number one cause of deaths in Uganda's Prisons,this food has helped to lessen on their death rate.There is more need for this food,so we pray for continued supplies and support.

One of the highlights has been the support we have given to income generating activities of 30 caretakers of children of prisoners who included grandmothers and mothers of children of prisoners. This included training and financial support of 100,000/= Uganda shillings (about USD 60) . We have seen lives change and we will soon have an impact assessment report.

We are also conducting a scripture placement programme with 100 inmates on death row in Upper Prison Luzira and 60 Children in remand homes.Howver,we lack whole bibles yet the inmates have requested for them .

We will be visiting Jinja Prison on the 15th July 2008.we will donate high protein Maize flour for the Prisoners living with HIV/AIDS.

THE FIRST PRISONERS CHILDREN’S CAMP IN UGANDA ::

We held a camp for children of prisoners, it was the first of its kind for Children such as these .most of these children either have their fathers on death row or living with HIV/AIDS in prison.We offered free medical care, where we had doctors do a check up and also offer medication. Some of the children had jiggers both on the feet and hands but we had them treated and also de wormed them. Most of them actually had blown stomachs . more

Please pray ,we have had financial hardship with risen costs of transport and food that have affected our work, we need God to send people who will commit themselves to donate towards our activities.

Prison visit and psycho social support given.

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 three prisons, that is the women prisons, the Murchison bay, Upper prisons all located in Luzira,Kampala and Jinja Main Prison respectively. Click on link below to read more

http://www.wellsofhope.org/goodsamaritan_01.php
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He survived the hangman

There was a deafening sound of joy and jubilation as the Judge ruled that Sam should be acquitted. In disbelief Sam fainted in the dock where he was, he had survived the hangman! Sam says that Being on death row for seven years is not something easy, even when you make an appeal like he did, you cannot really be certain of the future, its only God the redeemer who can dedicate one’s future according to Sam.

Click on link below to read more

http://www.wellsofhope.org/survived_the_hangman.php
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Scars to Stars: In our pursuit to help children of people in prison living with HIV/AIDS ,last Friday(30th March 2007) we met Aidah , a lady whose entire body is almost all covered with big scars after having survived the wrath of her husband who decided to spray sulphuric acid in the one roomed house she was sleeping in at around 3.00am in the night, arising out of a marital conflict..Read More

The prayer of two young girls to meet their father was answered.

The father of Christine now aged 9 and Proscovia aged 13 was imprisoned when they were still toddlers-so they never got to know what had happened to their dad. Their mothers (they are born of different moms) found other men and dumped them at a relatives’ home who in turn dumped them at the gate of an orphanage-they do not know any of their relatives.Read more
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It is OUR great pleasure to present the Wells Of Hope’s July 2006 Newsletter, which we feel reflects what God has done through Wells Of Hope Ministries over the past second quarter of this year. Our outreaches so far have been smooth and we thank the Lord for the opportunity He has given us to serve. We thank all of you who have partnered with us, for those who have given in their time and those who have give in materially and financially. Together we are putting Jesus’ Love in Action. Do not be surprised one day when God tells you, 'I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!' Mat 25:40

“Taking medicine without eating properly is like washing your hands and drying them in the dirt.”

Nutrition is a life-sustaining treatment and the role of nutrition in the treatment of HIV is

On Sunday 23rd April 2006 we visited Mbarara, the experience was so saddening, and actually Francis Ssuubi was the only volunteer who visited that day. He found 102 Men all stuffed in one small room who were critically sick, they were so bony, with spotted skin and some had sunken eyes. The prison authorities in Mbarara
were so grateful for our intervention and said the help was so timely, Francis gave them 50kgs Soya and 18kgs sugar, from what Francis observed we determined to visit again. There was one special room which they call isolation cell, it has close to 20 men and these ones are the really worst cases of TB and diarrhea, they could even stand up, they were all glued to
the blankets laid on the cold floor which serve as mattress and cover at the same time.
This prison is referral for all the other surrounding prisons for sick prisoners.
The second visit was on the 10th June 2006, Francis and Ellen Visited with 100Kgs of Soya and 25kgs of Sugar. The situation was far better, because of the improved nutrition; some of the patients were discharged from the ward of sick prisoners and taken back to the general ward where all other Prisoners sleep. Although still you could see that some of the prisoners needed to have a better diet, at least the situation is better.
We realized that there is a need to help the sick children who are also imprisoned along their mothers and have HIV. Mbarara women prison has the highest number of Children imprisoned along with their mothers which ranges from 15-20 kids.

On the 6th July 2006, we visited Kirinya Prison -Jinja, the Prisoners were so happy to receive us; equally the reception was so good from the staff, who included the officer in charge, the Regional Nurse and Aids Control Programme Coordinator and the senior welfare officer.
We donated 108 Kgs of Soya and 38 kgs of Sugar. These goodies were received with a lot of Gratitude.
Before we could leave, it was reported that some of the prisoners who had had been tested and were in denial and hiding their results arose to prove that they were HIV positive and so qualify to have a share of the Soya porridge with sugar. So this means we need to step up the quantities to match with the numbers of Prisoners with HIV/AIDS.
The Nurse also told us, that many of the prisoners have been encouraged to test and ascertain HIV/AIDS status.
We also learnt that about two years ago, the Prisons used to receive food supplements fro TASO but for a very long time now they have not been able to get these food supplements.
We met a snag, when we were asked whether the Prison officers living with HIV/AIDS were also entitled to he food supplements. We told them that our attention is towards the Prisoners living with HIV, but next time we could see how we cater for the Prison officers who are also in equal need of food supplements.
Our concern and prayer request now is that we can have an increased supply of these foodstuffs, so that we can meet the increased demand. As you may realize that what we are supplying now is very little and we usually take long to go back to a particular prison, and there are so many prisons we wish to reach out to.

Problems we have encountered
• Usually it is difficult to ascertain the number of patients, most times when we go we discover upon arrival at a particular prison that the Prisoners with HIV/AIDS are many
• We usually have little supplies as compared to the number of patients
• We lack transport of our own; we usually use taxis or Buses for long distances, which make the journey expensive and cumbersome. At one time boxes of sugar tore and the sugar spilled out, then another instance, the boxes of Soya became wet, because there was water on the car floor, we did not have a choice on the taxi to use and we did not know that the taxi floor was wet.
• Because of transport problem still we cannot afford to travel with an adequate number of volunteers-these are required in lifting the food supplements and counseling.
• We lack volunteers and need more volunteers, and in some cases we may need to facilitate these volunteers with a small allowance so that they are motivated.
• The original intention was to supplement the diet of Prisoners, but we have now discovered there prison officers who are also equally sick and are in need of supplements. It’s seemingly difficult for us to care for inmates when their jailors are also in need.

Recommendations
• "..The government should develop national guidelines for nutritional management intended to improve clinical care and outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS especially for those who are in Prison. Among our goals for this project is to see medical nutrition therapy become routine in primary HIV health management for people who are in Prison
• Particular attention should be given to the people in the Uganda Prisons living with HIV/AIDS (Both Prisoners and Staff), the government and Non-Government organization should significantly come out to help. A long standing solution to this need should be devised.
Conclusion:
Providing nutritional care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS is an important part of caring at all stages of the disease. Prisoners should not be left out; they are human beings before they became prisoners, so they need love care too.

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Do you want to make a difference?

“Wells Of Hope Ministries”, is an opportunity for each of us to reach out to people who have been rejected, people who are suffering such as families of Prisoners and we hope that God can use us to effect a regeneration in their lives. We need people who can volunteer, in many areas, which are not limited to going out with us, but also mobilizing financial and material support. We are asking God to bring more partners who will be committed to significantly giving financially to support Wells Of Hope. Finally pray with us so that we will see God use us change men and women’s hearts, as they turn to Jesus Christ and trust in Him.

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Editorial
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Arise the world is crying out, they need to see our Jesus in action. If we are going to impact a change in our society today we should be ready to head the call to remember the people who are suffering, we should arise and care and love the people in Prison. The world is looking out for the man who will reach out to them physically, and cry with them, rejoice with them. The man whose heart is full of the mercies of Jesus. Read More

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Launching Wells of Hope Ministries-Prison Outreach’
Wells of Hope Ministries was launched with a concert, which served also as a launch of the freedom homes project, 2006 Action plan and fundraising for our outreaches,which took place on the 27th November 2005 at Full Gospel Church-Makerere.Hon Tim Lwanga, Minister of State for Ethics and integrity was the guest of Honour .Click Here for more .

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Testimonies
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Brain, an ex-prisoner gave us a testimony-He tells us his experience in prison and in the ministry. It is an opportunity for us to know how he met Jesus Christ having been in jail and the bush for ten years. His Testimony is so touching , and it leaves many people asking a lot of questions,it is inspiring..Click here for Testimony in Full

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Wells of Hope Ministries was launched with a concert, which served also as a launch of the freedom homes project, 2006 Action plan and fundraising for our outreaches,which took place on the 27th November 2005 at Full Gospel Church-Makerere.Hon Tim Lwanga, Minister of State for Ethics and integrity was the guest of Honour .Click Here for more .

Training

HIV/AIDS- Volunteer training- in conjuction with The Bible Society,we trained 50 volunteers who are set to address the HIV/AIDS issue amongst people affected by crime.It took place at Namirembe resource Centre,Kampala from 14th-18th Nov ember 2005 .It was opened by the Director of Medical services, Uganda Prison services Dr.Kokorach and closed by The secretary General of The bible Society of Uganda,Mr Henry Kalule.Read More

Hidden Treasure 2005.During Christmas time we help to ease the pain of a parent separated from children at Christmas time by visiting and caring for these children.Last christmas,December 2005 we were able to visit ten families,thank you for your support which made it possible.Find out more...

The had bibles but they did not have clothes

On the 27th of February 2005 I had the opportunity of preaching together with others to men who were bare-chested, others had something close to shorts covering their loins. They sang with a lot of enthusiasm and great Joy in praise and worship of their creator God and later sat quietly just to listen to the good news of Jesus Christ their saviour, at the end of the day some of them who had no faith in the saving power of the Lord Jesus surrendered their lives and began trusting Jesus.

These are men that have been separated from society and now confirmed in one place, we needed no amplifier since the four walls surrounding them helped to increase and confirm the voices.
This was a great day for them since it is a day of rest, the other days are days of hard labor which entails scratching and turning up side down the ground, and with the long dry spell, it has been not been easy to work with hope that their toil and labor would yield fruits.
when we entered the big court yard in which they are enshrined there were loud enthusiats shouts with clapping of hands,as they welcomed us.They were too over joyed to receive us.It seems they take long with out receiving enormous visitors.

It is true, they are bibles in their hands, probably a Good Samaritan donated bibles to the prison, with the aim of equipping them with scriptures that are key to the day-to-day living and even for their eternal life.

This was at Bufulubi Central Prison, Mayuge district Uganda East Africa. It was my first time to visit this prison, and it was really touching to see these men worshipping God without clothes. We had a chat with the Deputy in charge of this Prison,and we inquired why these men did not have clothings,and he told us that they were waiting for supplies from the government for the last three years.So, we asked if we could look at where these men lay their ribs when it came to dust.I thank God I was able to hold my tears,because what we saw was unbelievable.Some of these men did have a blanket which was used for lying on and covering and most of them had papyrus mats.

Many times,I think God has forsaken me and I forget to appreciate what I have,yet there are many people like these brothers whose future lies uncertain go through immense suffering.I thanked God for the opportunity of ministering to these people.

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