A mother's tears as son rots in Ugandan prison

Muhammed Hamid Suleiman's mother Zeinab Hamid. Suleiman was accused of being involved in the July 10, 2010 Kampala bombing. [Photo: David Njaaga/Standard]

A mother’s unconditional love for her son can be seen in one Zainab Hamid.

For almost seven years now, Ms Zainab has been making endless trips to Luzira Prison in Uganda to see her son, Mohammed Hamid Suleiman. Despite his acquittal in May, Suleiman is still being held at the facility two months on.

Mr Suleiman was acquitted by Ugandan High Court Judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo of terrorism charges on May 26 over the 2010 Kampala bombing that left 78 dead. The 41-year-old was re-arrested while on his way home. Suleiman is now languishing in prison where no food is provided and Zainab has to do monthly shopping for him.

“I have been reduced to almost a beggar. I have four orphaned grandchildren all in secondary school. I take loans everywhere. My husband died many years ago,” she told The Standard.

Armed with a huge suitcase and at least Sh60,000 in every trip, Zainab has been an ardent customer of the Simba Coach bus since June 2010, making monthly trips to the neighbouring country.

 Envious neighbours

Matters got worse for her when lawyers, who represented her son, demanded Sh500,000 in payment.

“(The lawyers) even opened an account with a local bank for me to deposit the little I have until it reaches the full amount,” she said.

To her envious neighbours, she passes for a sophisticated businesswoman, but it is only when she discloses the pain in her heart that one realises why motherhood is not for the faint-hearted.

“If it were not that he had bought this house, we would be in the cold. I have been made a father to my own grandchildren,” she said wiping tears with her khanga outfit.

Of Suleiman’s four children, the first one whom he left in Standard Six is now in Form Three. The children have not seen their father for six years.

Since May, however, Zainab has not been able to make a single trip to Uganda on the advice of her son. Suleiman told his mother that she might be arrested or framed-up.

This is because until recently, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye had been detained at Luzira, which meant the compound was under tight security.

“If Uganda’s top leadership can do that to a respected leader, what more will they do to foreigners? Zainab wondered.