Evaline Atimango
How a 38 Year Sentence Became a Calling
When Evaline Atimango arrived at Luzira Women Prison in Kampala, she knew nothing about her case, her rights or the process unfolding around her. She moved through the system without information or guidance, unsure of the evidence against her and unaware of what to expect in court. “I was just taken like any other animal. If they said we go to court, I went,” she recalls. That lack of knowledge left her with a thirty eight year sentence she never understood.
Everything changed when she joined the Justice Defenders programme. For the first time, she began to learn the law that shaped her life. “Knowledge is power,” she says. “When I help someone using the knowledge I have gained, it makes me happy. It has become my heartbeat.”
Evaline’s transformation was shaped not only by legal training but also by the people who modelled service for her. She speaks often of the example set by Justice Defenders leaders who visited Luzira. “I have copied a lot from them. The love they show when they walk around helping others. It helped me fit into Justice Defenders and understand what this work means.”
Today, Evaline uses her training to support other women facing the same confusion she once lived through. She drafts documents, explains procedures and ensures no one goes to court blind. Her experience has given her a sense of purpose she intends to carry for life. “As long as I have breath, it is my responsibility to make sure someone receives justice.”
Evaline’s story is a reminder of what becomes possible when those most affected by injustice are given the tools to understand the system and help others navigate it.
