Roger Okut Ocaya served his sentence in prison in Northern Uganda. After his release he managed to succeed with his business plan and has joined school to learn more. Now he is a role model and a business man.
The 31 year old Roger Okut Ocaya living in Nyanza cell, Pager division, Kitgum municipality, faced in year 2019 a prison sentence and served one year in Kitgum and in Orom Tikao prison.
During his imprisonment he participated in entrepreneurship and life skills trainings provided under the BOPLYN project, which helped him to acquire a positive mindset. “The main discussion was no longer the way one used to rape or steal, but how one was going to work and manage his business he had in the plan after the prison,”said Mr. Roger.
After his release, he was excited to see his family and friends again, nevertheless survival was challenging and he was confronted with stigma. Roger was not swayed by backbiting and worked to realise his ideas. While in prison, Roger was among the shortlisted members whose business proposal in beads making was selected and supported by Advance Afrika, Immediately he started to produce handbags, necklaces, wallets and wristbands with beads and sale his products, which helped him to generate income and be reintegrated in his community. Later Roger invested in a mini bakery to diversify his income opportunities. But he still wanted to reach higher goals and searched for more options.
He decided to go back to school at Kitgum Business Institute, studying business administration. He paid his tuition with earnings from his businesses. Through his efforts in school, he was elected as the Guild President of Kitgum Business institute. Next to this, Roger is heading Kitgum Ex-inmate’s association. He is a role model in his environment and he is invited to speak on radio shows about his experience. Roger is encouraging young men to turn away from bad habits and criminal intentions, Honesty and sincerity pay off more in the end and ultimately lead to personal success, like Roger did.
“Bridging opportunities for effective and productive livelihoods of youth prison inmates and ex-inmates in northern Uganda” (BOPLYN) is a three-year action implemented by Advance Afrika in partnership with Edukans and Uganda Prison Service with support from European Union.
