Gulu Remand Home has taken a proactive step to address nutritional deficiencies among its juvenile inmates by introducing horticulture. The aim of this project is to cultivate a variety of nutritious foods that will improve diets, enhance food security, and promote the overall health of young offenders. Currently, the remand home houses 142 juvenile inmates from across the Acholi sub-region, consisting of 138 boys and 4 girls.
Supporting this initiative is Don Bosco Uganda, a charitable organization that recently assisted in establishing a state-of-the-art greenhouse at the facility for seedling production. Reverend Father Denis Habamungu Silesian from Don Bosco revealed that the greenhouse will initially accommodate 1,000 bags of Anaa F2 Tomato variety seedlings, which will flourish and be ready for harvest after a period of six months. This project aims to address the inadequate food supply that the remand home has been facing.
Horticulture is the science and art of cultivating edible fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, and ornamental plants for improved production and commercialization. In January of this year, the Gulu City Woman Member of Parliament, Betty Aol, and other leaders from the Omoro district raised concerns regarding the insufficient food available at the facility, with reports of juvenile inmates surviving on just one meal per day.
The Commanding Officer of Gulu Remand Home, Joseph Musasizi stated that the project will also include training for the young inmates in horticulture, facilitated by agricultural specialists. Additionally, Gulu City Mayor Alfred Okwonga notes that the facility will serve as a demonstration and learning area for the public interested in horticulture. During a visit to the facility, Archbishop John Baptist Odama of the Gulu Catholic Diocese emphasized the importance of child protection and expressed his support for this endeavor.
