The greatest book ever written may be the most important resource that brings life transformation for inmates in Moroto Main Prison.
Isaac Cheshari is excited that he now has access to a Bible in the Luganda language.
Having been convicted of aggravated robbery, the law in Uganda stipulates that Isaac is sentenced to life in prison.
At Moroto Main Prison, Isaac gave his life to Christ, and from then determined to live a life worthy of his newly found faith.
MAF met Isaac at the prison, where they flew their partners Youth with a Mission in collaboration with End Bible Poverty Uganda, to distribute 200 Bibles to inmates.
“I thank God for the gift of a Bible because we have been yearning for the Word,” Isaac said.
“This is a very good gesture,” said Moroto Main Prison’s officer in charge, Ronald Hakiza. “It will go a long way in helping the inmates to have access to a big Bible and it will preoccupy them as they read the Word of God. It is a way of rehabilitating them.”
Many Moroto inmates originally come from central Uganda where the local language is Luganda. Meanwhile, Moroto is located in northern Uganda, where they predominantly speak Karimojong, thus the need for Luganda Bibles.
I thank God for the gift of a Bible because we have been yearning for the Word
Many Moroto inmates originally come from central Uganda where the local language is Luganda. Meanwhile, Moroto is located in northern Uganda, where they predominantly speak Karimojong, thus the need for Luganda Bibles.
“Inmates have more time to read while here than when they are out there,” Ronald added. “We really value religious rehabilitation through spiritual nourishment, and it is one of the ways we support inmates.”
It takes an entire day to drive the 500 kilometres to Moroto district from Kampala, Uganda’s capital – but a MAF flight uses only an hour and twenty minutes to arrive.
“I would like to appreciate MAF for flying the Bibles and messengers here,” Ronald said. “We hope in the long run with these Bibles the inmates will become better people.”
A Luganda Bible costs 50,000 Ugandan shillings, equivalent to 14 US dollars. Due to high poverty levels, only a few people can afford a Bible.
“The reason we give out Bibles is so that everyone can have access to the Word of God,” Able Rukundo, the leader of End Bible Poverty Uganda told the inmates while handing them copies of the Bible.
“There’s no way you will know what God says unless you read the Bible. And we would rather you do not only read, but also put into practice what this Bible says, and your life will not remain the same.”
Pilot Wim Hobo, from the Netherlands, had flown Bibles to a number of different communities in his service with MAF, but not yet to inmates.
“I can imagine that inmates don’t get much attention,” he said. “While I’ve never been to prison, I can imagine they suffer quite a lot. I think the Word of God is the most precious thing we could give them.”
Prisons are highly restricted places in Uganda. Together with their effective ministry partners, MAF is grateful to have access to inmates, especially delivering to them the life-changing Word of God.