Editorʼs Note
Our international Committee Member Mpagi Edward Edmary is an exceptional person. Despite an appalling two decades long ordeal, he wants to help others have a chance in life that he was denied. His dream is to build a school for that purpose. They now need extra help very urgently. We ask all supporters and readers to help him deliver a chance, which comes under our Social Justice remit. To see how you can help Mpagi deliver his dream please visit Dream One World at http://dreamoneworld.org/
Derek Miller
Ordeal
I spent nearly two decades on death row for the alleged murder of my neighbour William Wandyaka, who was simply hiding. He was found very much alive seven years into my sentence, but it took Amnesty International nearly 13 more years to secure my release.
During my years on death row, I was badly affected by guards who threatened to hit my head very hard during my execution time. They would always remind prisoners about the gallows – remember that I was innocent man, as was my co-accused, my cousin Fred Masembe. He died of neglect. They refused to treat him. Weakened by malaria, he died of complications that proper treatment would have prevented.
Mpagi Edward Edmary
Peace
I began reading my bible in my early days on death row. The more I read it the more I found peace in my life. I began holding bible classes for inmates and counselled violent inmates. The authorities began consulting me about situations that arose with inmates. I became a great support to both the inmates and authorities.
I begun sharing my beliefs with the inmates about God’s love, the power of forgiveness and faith in the Lord. Many people trusted me and whenever the authorities thought about executing me, they thought about my contribution inside prison. This is one of the reasons I survived the five ʻscheduledʼ executions during my time on Death Row. 52 of my closest friends were executed by hanging while I was in Luzira Prison.
School Photographed by Scott Langley
My Dream
During my time on Ugandaʼs death row, I struggled to convince the guards and authorities that we were human beings, and not violent as they thought. I worked hard to begin a school on death row in Uganda to make inmates busy and for them to learn to read and write. Many were poor and illiterate. They had never been to school.
In 2000 when I was released from death row after two decades I embarked on my dream to build a school in my community for the children of men and women on death row in Uganda and victims of AIDS. Dream One World is making my dream a reality. It took years to begin, but now the school that I started in the prison is at university level. It has changed the lives of inmates in many ways, and continues to do so today. It is not the only school that I have started.
One of the things that caused me great pain in prison was the effect it had upon my children. They lost their education because I was not there to provide for them. They had committed no crime – nor had – but the children, even of the guilty are innocent. They deserved an education and the chances that would have provided for them and society too. I was determined to do something about it. I decided to start another school outside of prison to give such children the chance that they deserve.
Our Beloved Children
I thank Kathy Ozzard Chism, Founder of Dream One World, for believing in my dream and starting the school with me. I also thank all the Dream One World friends and donors for supporting the Dream One World school project in Uganda. That support is making a difference in Uganda, and the school will make a difference for many generations to come. I am honoured to be able to help transform the lives of innocent children with you. Our donors and supporters are a blessing and a Godsend.
Needs
However, now the Ugandan government is threatening to close our school, just as they have closed many others already, if we do not build a massive security wall around our entire school complex immediately and staff it with security guards. The cost of this is prohibitive, leaving us no choice but to appeal for help.
Mpagi Edward Edmary at the school
The Fitted-In Project supports my efforts as part of its Social Justice projects. We need to raise a large amount quickly in order to continue our work. Please visit our site http://dreamoneworld.org/ to see how you can help me deliver my promise and dream. We need your help to keep our dream of helping others alive. The situation is urgent. Dream One World is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation, based in the USA.
Although donations within the USA are tax deductible as Dream One World is based there, we hope that people all over the world will help us to provide a public benefit by giving an education to these disadvantaged people.
Please, help us keep our dream alive. Uganda does not have a public school system. Without this school, the orphaned children and children of the imprisoned we are currently helping have no hope for an education. Thank you so much.
Mpagi Edward Edmary