Kabale High Court Resident Judge, Karoli Lwanga Ssemogerere, has urged juveniles at the Kabale Regional Remand Home to embrace opportunities for personal reform, emphasizing that their current circumstances do not define their future.
During a visit to the facility on Wednesday, Justice Ssemogerere delivered a message of hope, transformation, and second chances, aligning his remarks with the spirit of the Easter season. He encouraged the children to view their time at the remand home as an opportunity for restoration and growth.
“Something that does not need repair is often thrown away,” the Judge said, drawing an analogy to underscore the value of rebuilding one’s life. “Allow yourselves to be rebuilt into responsible members of society.”
The visit brought together a range of stakeholders from the justice sector, reflecting a coordinated commitment to strengthening juvenile justice and rehabilitation efforts. Justice Ssemogerere engaged both the juveniles and staff in discussions centered on transformation, discipline, and the importance of making positive life choices.
He highlighted the role of the remand home as a supportive environment for change and urged the children to emerge as agents of transformation upon reintegration into their communities. In a symbolic gesture reflecting compassion and renewal, the Judge shared refreshments with the juveniles.
However, the visit also shed light on several operational challenges facing the facility. These include pressing security concerns, the absence of a nearby police station, the need to expand IT training despite the availability of computers, and the importance of installing security cameras to enhance safety.
The Uganda Police Force Kigezi Region Spokesperson, Elly Maate, echoed the judge’s message, urging the juveniles to avoid criminal behavior and take advantage of the opportunity to reform.
He emphasized that their youth offers them a unique chance to rebuild their lives, noting that future leaders—including religious figures and public officials—could emerge from among them.
Justice Ssemogerere was accompanied by a multi-sectoral delegation that included Arnold Ndagijje, legal officer with the Uganda Police Force; Julie Najjunju from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; Monica Muhumuza, Probation Officer; Penelope Natamba; Jonathan Anguzu; representatives from civil society organizations including Grace Villa; and officers from the Child and Family Protection Unit and Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).
The Officer in Charge of the Remand Home, Hussein Mwanja, expressed appreciation for the visit and commended the continued support from justice sector stakeholders.
Mwanjja highlighted significant achievements at the facility, including a remarkable reduction in repeat offending rates—from 50 percent to just 1 percent—alongside improved coordination among stakeholders and strengthened institutional management despite limited resources.
He also pointed to persistent challenges contributing to juvenile delinquency in the region, including neglect, poverty, abuse by step-parents, weakened extended family systems, peer pressure, and the negative influence of criminally inclined adults.
The visit reaffirmed the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing juvenile justice issues and fostering environments where young offenders can rehabilitate and reintegrate as productive members of society.