The Deputy Commissioner General of the Uganda Prisons Service, Samuel Akena, has urged Ugandans returning from South Africa to embrace law-abiding lives as they reintegrate into their communities, stressing that Uganda's peace and stable security environment provide the ideal foundation for rebuilding their futures.

Addressing the returnees, Akena warned that anyone who chooses a criminal path would face the full force of the law.

"Uganda is peaceful, and security agencies are vigilant. If you choose the wrong path, you will be arrested," he cautioned.

In one of the strongest messages of his address, Akena remarked that Luzira Prison has "never been full and will never be empty," using the statement to emphasize the importance of respecting the law and following all legal procedures while starting a new chapter back home.

He also appealed to the returnees not to allow the trauma of the xenophobic attacks they endured in South Africa to fuel bitterness or revenge.

According to Akena, harbouring anger can have lasting psychological and health consequences, while acting on such emotions could push individuals into criminal behaviour and eventual imprisonment.

Instead, he encouraged the returnees to focus on rebuilding their lives through patience, hard work and lawful enterprise.

The Deputy Commissioner General advised them to begin with small, manageable businesses rather than rushing into major investments, noting that sustainable success is built through careful planning, discipline and gradual growth.

He concluded by calling on the returnees to become active contributors to Uganda's socio-economic transformation.

"Building a better Uganda is the responsibility of every citizen. Let us all contribute positively to the development of our dear motherland," Akena said.