CDA Secures Release of 32 inmates.

CDA Secures Release of 32 Inmates from Wau Central Prison, Including Women and Juveniles

Awut Dut Paul

9/27/2026

CDA Secures Release of 32 Inmates from Wau Central Prison, Including Women and Juveniles
The Community Development Agency, CDA, and it Funding partners UNDP has secured the release of 32 inmates from Wau Central Prison, including women and juveniles, under a justice initiative aimed at improving access to legal assistance and supporting vulnerable people in conflict with the law.
The release was conducted under the Justice and Confidence Centre initiative, which provides free legal services and support to inmates, women, juveniles, victims and other community members facing legal challenges.

Speaking during the release, a programs Manager for CDA Marko Agiu said the organization is working to ensure that citizens, particularly vulnerable groups, have access to justice, legal representation and legal information.

He added that CDA intends to extend the initiative to Raja County, where the organization plans to support the release of eligible inmates from Raja Prison.

The Deputy Director of Wau Central Prison Brigadier General John Juma Charles, welcomed the initiative, saying the release of the 32 inmates would contribute to reducing congestion in the prison and support efforts to improve the administration of justice.

Juma Charles also cautioned them against reoffending, stressing that their release should be regarded as an opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into society, rather than an opportunity to commit further offences.

Speaking on behalf of the released inmates, Nyirou Garang expressed appreciation to CDA and the prison authorities. She said she had been serving a six-month sentence and had faced a fine of 500,000 South Sudanese pounds.

She thanked the prison authorities for supporting and identifying inmates eligible for release, saying the initiative had given them another opportunity to rebuild their lives outside prison.

Another released inmate, Khamis Anthony, also welcomed the release, saying he had been serving a sentence related to an offence carrying a 300,000 South Sudanese-pound penalty and had experienced significant hardship while in detention.

Meanwhile, legal advocate Linda clarified that a criminal conviction should not permanently define a persons identity or prevents them from rebuilding their lives.

She encouraged the released inmates to comply with the law, reintegrate peacefully into their communities and avoid conduct that could result in further arrest, prosecution or imprisonment.

The release of the 32 inmates include 9 from Women Prison, 7 Juvenile and 16 from Wau Central Prison, this highlights ongoing efforts by justice-sector actors and civil society organizations to expand access to justice, support rehabilitation, reduce prison congestion and promote the reintegration of eligible inmates into their communities.

Authorities and legal actors continue to emphasize that release from custody comes with a responsibility to respect the law and avoid reoffending.