History
African Prisons Project (APP) was founded in 2004 by Alexander McLean, then aged 18, on a gap year before university. Whilst volunteering in a hospital in Kampala, he met a group of prisoners from Luzira Upper Prison. One memorable prisoner was in a deep coma, lying in his own waste, handcuffed to the bed, with the guard nowhere to be seen. Other patients refused food and drink to avoid soiling themselves as there were no bedpans or commodes. This prompted Alexander to visit their prison. The maximum security prison, built by the British in 1927 to hold 600, now holds four times as many. Typically, a 6’ x 10’ cell might hold seven inmates sleeping on the floor.
Disturbed by the prison conditions, Alexander returned a few weeks later to renovate the prison’s infirmary. He provided the materials and the prisoners used their skills to do the work. It was named after his grandmother Aileen Lilly Chapple who had given him a great deal of inspiration and vision.
On completion of the project, Alexander asked the prisoners if there was anything else they needed. The resounding response was ‘education’. Once back in the UK Alexander collected books and money donated by residents of his local area in Southwest London. He quickly collected enough resources to go back to Uganda and develop the library that the prisoners had asked for.
There was clearly a real need for health and education within prisons that was not being properly addressed by charities or non-governmental organisations. Alexander inspired his family, friends and volunteers to this cause, and APP was born. These young volunteers have since undertaken a number of projects in Africa that have made a significant impact to restoring dignity and improving the conditions for prisoners.
Building on this momentum, in 2007 APP was incorporated as a charitable company. Later that year we received registered charity status in the UK. From 2008, APP has set up a permanent base in Kampala, Uganda as our African headquarters to enable us to plan for the future.