News
21 Jun 2008Women’s school and library planning commences
APP has commenced planning an ambitious project to install educational facilities for female prisoners in Luzira Prison, Uganda.
Currently Luzira’s female wing has no dedicated education rooms and no library. When Toby Brown was in Uganda recently he consulted with the Ugandan Prison Service, inmate leaders and representatives of educational and charitable organisations. It was clear that lack of educaton was the biggest outstanding problem for female inmates. Providing the infrastructure to enable female inmates to learn is crucial in making long-term changes at the prison. APP and partner engineers have surveyed a derelict on-site building perfect for regeneration and conversion to an education centre.
There will be many challenges in getting this project underway. The initial challenge will be to sensitise female prisonsers to the benefits of education. Ensuring that this project is planned and funded will be the crucial first steps before any infrastructure work is undertaken. Adam Smith, APP spokesperson, said: “We’re currently looking at how to get this project off the ground and would welcome donations of any size. It’s expected that building the education centre will cost up to £10,000, so we have an uphill struggle. If you wish to donate money to help APP, please use our online donation facility by clicking here. For large donations, please contact us.”
11 Jun 2008Toby returns from successful Uganda visit
APP’s legal director and trustee Toby Brown has returned to the UK after visiting the charity’s recently established base in Kampala. His first task was to negotiate and sign the tenancy agreement for the new base in Kampala.
Alexander, the charity’s director, has been working on establishing our operations in Uganda and commencing a range of projects to improve the lives of prisoners. Toby’s trip enabled him to see at first hand the challenges and problems faced on the ground. Toby was able to strengthen the charity’s work by putting in place a number of management, operational and financial changes, all codified into procedures for all staff to use.
Toby said: “It was a very busy three weeks. We made some important structural and management decisions to strengthen the future of APP Uganda, which I hope will support Alexander’s fantastic work well into the future.”
3 Jun 2008Four new volunteers head to Uganda
A crew of four volunteers has recently flown to Uganda to help with APP’s current project at Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
The volunteers’ trip has been coordinated by Danya O’Meally, a volunteer and project manager for JUMP, a registered youth charity dedicated to training and propelling young people to achieve their full potential by supporting them to develop skills that they can carry away beyond their experiences. Danya will be joined by Selina Trezel, a Christian education department representative from Lee New Testament Church, Massy Rukuundo, a law student, and Christine Spencer, a nurse from London. Both Massy and Christine were born in Uganda.
Danya said: “APP’s genuine love and compassion and its willingness to get up close and personal in order to make authentic changes is what drew me to its work. I am looking forward to meeting the great people APP has worked with in Uganda - prisoners with a real understanding of freedom.”
Massy said: “Uganda is my home and I love it. I want to give as much as I can and APP has provided me with the opportunity to do this. At this stage in my life, it’s great to be able to give back even though I may not have that much to give. As a volunteer, APP is allowing me to give of what I do have.”
Keep checking back here for details of how the volunteers get on.
24 May 2008Film reveals death row plight
A short film underlining the plight of Uganda’s death row prisoners with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Freedom Cry, the Condemned Choir’s CD, is now online.
The 14-minute film, “Death Row Choir”, is downloadable for free in RealPlayer format. It is produced by Journeyman Pictures, London’s leading independent distributor of topical documentaries. Journalist Joe Sinclair shot the footage during the recording of Freedom Cry at Luzira Maximum Security Prison in December 2007.
APP spokesman Adam Smith said: “This film gives you a clear idea of the harsh conditions in Uganda’s prisons and the passion with which the condemned prisoners can argue against the death sentence. As the Supreme Court decision approaches, APP urges everyone to watch this insightful film. We’d also like to thank Journeyman for producing the film.”
Visit the Journeyman site to view the Death Row Choir video.
9 May 2008Death penalty challenge imminent
Uganda’s death penalty is currently being challenged by a landmark appeal brought by more than 400 death row inmates. The case was due to go to the Supreme Court on 22 May 2008, however the hearing has been adjourned. No new date has been fixed for the hearing but it is expected to be held at the end of June or during July 2008.
Toby Brown, APP’s legal director, said, “This is a unique case in that it’s the first time all death row prisoners have appealed at the same time.”
A local firm, supported by a coalition of international lawyers, including leading human rights barrister Keir Starmer QC, is working on the constitutional challenge. APP hopes that the court will rule that any prisoner who has been on death row for less than three years will have to go through mitigation and resentencing. The charity then hopes to partner local lawyers with international lawyers to represent the inmates.
Read more about the Death Penalty Appeal.
18 Apr 2008APP revs up with new car
APP has finally purchased a car so that volunteers in Uganda can be transported easily.
Alexander and colleagues have traditionally used taxis or motorbike taxis, known as boda-bodas, to get around. But these are not a very safe option: boda-bodas are unregulated and can be dangerous, it can be time consuming to find a boda-boda driver and haggle him down to a sensible price, and it can look rather unprofessional arriving to a meeting with a commissioner of prisons on the back of a ramshackle moped.
Alexander told Letter from Africa: “We bought a 1995 Mitsubishi Pajero, and we’ve now got a driver called Isaac. It’s going to be a lot more convenient to transport our things. And we hope to get an APP logo printed on the side.”
19 Mar 2008Energy expert visits prisons
Shoko Okamura of Better Generation, an independent renewable energy company, recently visited APP in Uganda to inspect Kampala Remand Prison and Murchison Bay Hospital. She advised on using solar panels to power the medical facilities. APP will now install solar panels during the current refurbishment of the sickbay at Kampala Remand Prison.
22 Mar 2008Freedom Cry
Freedom Cry, an album of songs performed by death row inmates in Uganda, is out now.
The new CD was recorded by the Condemned Choirs of Luzira Prison, Uganda. The Freedom Cry CD was recorded in December 2007 during a visit by a team from the UK. All recording was done inside the Luzira Prison. The CD has been produced to help raise funds for African Prison Project.
You can purchase the CD for £8.00 plus £2.00 p&p at the Condemned Choirs website. All profits from the sale of this CD go towards the work of APP.
Press enquiries - please phone 020 8123 2090.
4 Mar 2008APP newsletter goes live
The first issue of APP’s new quarterly newsletter is now online, produced by Adam Smith. The newsletter has news stories, features and more. Click here to download Letter From Africa.
25 Feb 2008Books shipment sets sail
APP today finalised the shipment to Uganda of a consignment of books, computers and humanitarian items. In the last month trustee directors Toby Brown and Lyn McLean had been coordinating various stores across the country to ensure the items were ready to be shipped. Thanks particularly to Raj and Peter in Nottingham, and volunteers in Surrey: Shoko, Bhavisha, Tom, Suzy and Max. Our gratitude also goes to partner organisations CEVA Logistics, International Law Book Facility, Age Care and Diocese of Guildford. (Full stories to follow.)
14 Jan 2008Toby Brown commences new role
APP trustee director Toby Brown today took up a six-month post to focus on establishing the framework of the registered charity. “My first aim is build on the great successes of the student organisation and evolve APP into a well run organisation with the appropriate corporate governance,” said Toby. “My second principle aim is to coordinate a legal project to link legal organisations into our education and health aims in African prisons. And I’m sure along the way while managing our UK operations I will have a lot of fun!”
22 Nov 2007Alexander McLean wins 2007 Beacon Prize Award
On Thursday 22 November, Alexander McLean became the overall winner of the 2007 Beacon Prize Awards.
The Beacon Prize Awards honour outstanding individuals who have given money, time or skills to create and help causes that enrich our communities in a wide variety of powerful ways. The Gala Prize Ceremony was held in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace, London, and was hosted by Martyn Lewis CBE.
Alexander won the Beacon Prize for Young Philanthropist of 2007 in recognition of his work as founder and director of the African Prisons Project. He was then named as the 2007 Beacon Prize Overall Winner and was presented with a £30,000 cheque by Campbell Robb, Director General of the Cabinet Office - Office of the Third Sector.
Read our new Press Release: Alexander McLean - 2007 Beacon Prize Winner dated 26 November 2007.
12 Nov 2007APP inspects former project
APP founder Alexander McLean and his father St Aubyn travelled to Kenya to inspect Kamiti Prison where the APP team had installed the 34,000-book library and refurbished the medical bay in 2006. They reported that APP’s work, particularly the library, had been well maintained. Alexander was especially delighted to see that the Kenyan Prisons Service had employed a librarian.
11 Sep 2007Alexander wins UK Graduate of the Year award
Alexander McLean has won the top prize in the annual Real World Graduate of the Year competition, for his inspirational work in African prisons. He beat four other graduates from various UK universities in the competition, which was presented at an awards ceremony in London on Tuesday, 11th September 2007.
This is the fourth year of the Real World Graduate of the Year awards, in which students are rewarded for extra-curricular, work-based or campus activities that demonstrate their attitude, energy and commitment, recognising that there is more to university than just academic achievement.
Real World’s founder, Darius Norell, said: “Alexander’s achievements are a real inspiration to us all..it was his commitment to improving conditions in African prisons that particularly grabbed our attention.”
Read more about Alexander winning the UK Graduate of the Year award.