While Wells of Hope ministries conducted a research that was to aid in the documentation of Uganda’s first ever Re-entry guide, a booklet that is meant to offer information to people in prison about how to access the basic needs and services during and after incarceration like medical care, education, obtaining a national ID, getting a passport and many others. The researchers found out that one of the basic needs is housing. It was a challenge to identify any reliable form of housing that a person that is leaving prison can go to. And yet, as a vast number of individuals shared – both the ones that had previously been released and those still in incarceration, one would require a place to go to especially on the release day as they embrace their new found freedom and as they prepare for a life after prison.
Whereas both men and women face challenges resettling back in their communities, the research showed that given their vulnerability women are more disadvantaged and can hardly manoeuvre through their communities unlike their male counterparts. The men, are
often easily accepted in their communities and homes which Is the direct opposite for the women. This often leads the women to be the common victims of recidivism as they often go back to the crimes that had them incarcerated before as they try to seek for survival. It was on this ground that Prof Rebecca Ginsburg from the university of Illinois who was spearheading the research about the re-entry guide introduced Wells of Hope to Ms. Susan Burton, the founder of A New Way of Life (ANWOL) which offers similar services as the Wells of Hope Women Safe Home in Los Angeles. Susan, then travelled to Uganda and visited women in Luzira Women Prison. The women there expressed to Susan that their biggest challenge as they prepare for the release day is shelter. The women shared that they often have fear when they are almost completing their sentences because they worry about where to go. Cannot immediately return to their communities for various reasons among which include fear of stigma, family breakages, or loss of contact with family members due to the long period in incarceration among others. As thus Susan Burton supported Wells of Hope Ministries to start up a half way home for women that are being released from prison. The first of its kind in Uganda, reaching out and
supporting Women to successfully serve their jail terms, prepare for the release day and above all successfully settle back in their communities