Bishop Eciru Urges Inmates to Embrace Forgiveness and Hope During Early Christmas at Soroti Prison

By Our Reporter

The Bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach, has urged inmates to embrace forgiveness, reject revenge and shun despair as a pathway to inner healing and eventual freedom.

Bishop Eciru made the call while celebrating an early Christmas with inmates at Soroti Government Prison, where he delivered a homily centered on love, reconciliation and unwavering trust in God. He reminded the prisoners that incarceration does not define the totality of their lives and encouraged them to view each passing day as a step closer to freedom and a renewed opportunity to prepare for a better future.

“Don’t give up. Don’t surrender. Don’t yield to despair,” the Bishop told the inmates. “We are pilgrims of hope. Let God take over. Your work is to look up to Him, look up to heaven, and raise your head. Do not allow bitterness to rule your heart.”

He cautioned inmates against harboring thoughts of revenge, noting that such sentiments only prolong pain and hinder personal transformation. According to the Bishop, forgiveness is not a sign of weakness but a mark of strength that opens the door to healing and spiritual growth.

“There should be no sentiments of revenge,” he said. “Trust in the Lord and let Him heal your wounds. When you hold on to bitterness, you remain imprisoned even in your heart.”

Drawing from biblical teachings, Bishop Eciru encouraged inmates to live meaningfully in the present moment despite their circumstances. He referenced the Book of Jeremiah, recalling the Israelites’ period of captivity and the instruction to live fully and purposefully even while confined.

“The first rule is to live the present moment to the fullest,” he said. “Let this be a moment of reflection, a moment of growth in faith, and a moment to reflect on the meaning of life.”

The Bishop also appealed to inmates to uphold charity and unity, urging them to “speak one language and wear one uniform—charity.” He emphasized that love for one another is the foundation of peace within prison communities and society at large.

Reassuring inmates of God’s faithfulness, Bishop Eciru said divine promises are fulfilled in God’s own time, often when least expected. He cited the biblical story of Elizabeth and Zechariah, who were blessed with a child in old age.

“God will surprise you at His own time,” he said. “When will it happen? At God’s own time.”

The early Christmas celebration at Soroti Government Prison was marked by prayer, song and the donation of assorted items intended to improve inmates’ welfare during the festive season. The event aimed not only to share joy but also to restore dignity, strengthen faith and promote peaceful coexistence among inmates.

In a similar gesture, the Diocese extended the festive spirit to Nakatunya Prison in Soroti, where a mini Christmas celebration was organized and additional items were donated to support prisoners’ basic needs. The initiative underscored the Church’s commitment to pastoral care and social outreach beyond the main prison facility.

Prison officials welcomed the Diocese’s intervention, noting that such engagements play a critical role in rehabilitation. They said spiritual guidance and material support contribute to positive behavioral change, foster harmony within prison units and prepare inmates for successful reintegration into society upon release.

“The message of forgiveness and hope is essential to rehabilitation,” one prison official said. “When inmates are encouraged to reflect, heal and believe in a better future, it reduces tension and supports reform.”

The Soroti celebrations form part of a wider countrywide tradition within the Uganda Prisons Service to mark Christmas with inmates and staff. As part of this annual practice, the Commissioner General of Prisons provides Christmas meat to all prison units, ensuring that both inmates and officers share in the festive season.

Prison authorities say the gesture reflects the Service’s commitment to humane custody, inclusion and care, reinforcing the belief that prisoners remain members of the national community deserving of dignity and compassion.