After successfully running certificate and diploma programmes at Luzira Upper Prison Inmates Study Centre, Makerere University Business School (Mubs) has promised to start a degree programme.
Speaking during a ceremony to award successful inmates with certificates in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management on Friday at Luzira, the Mubs principal, Prof Wasswa Balunywa, said introducing a degree programme is inevitable since the demand for skills development among the inmates is growing by the day. “The demand for our courses is growing tremendously and in the near future, we will be able to introduce a degree programme,” Prof Balunywa said.
However, he didn’t state when the degree programme will be rolled out at the country’s major correctional centre.
This was the 3rd graduation ceremony to be conducted at Luzira and 33 inmates received certificates and diplomas. He also advised the inmates to become better people as they plan to return to their communities.
The director Prisons Correctional Services, Mr Tommy Ochen, applauded Mubs for sustaining the programme, saying it has helped turn inmates into useful citizens. He said plans were underway to establish functional adult literacy programmes to help inmates who never got a chance to go to class.
The developments
Graduates. At least 111 inmates have graduated under the free university programme since 2011.
UPE, USE programmes. The prison also runs a fully-funded UPE and USE schools which started in 2000 and at least 15 teachers were posted there by the ministry of Education to teach various subjects.
Vocational training. A total of 1,000 inmates are doing vocational courses including among others , carpentry and hair dressing for the women inmates.
