Uganda, once known as the pearl of East Africa, is located in the eastern region of the continent of Africa.  Since 1979 it has been struggling to recover from the terrible decimation that it suffered during the dictatorship of Idi Amen, who murdered more than 300,000 people.

The problem of AIDS has ravished the country of Uganda. USAID estimates that there are currently 2.3 million children under the age of 15 in Uganda who have lost their mother, father or both to AIDS. In a nation of 20.8 million persons, orphaned children represent over 10% of the entire population.

In African culture, grandparents and other relatives feel a responsibility to care for orphans within the extended family. However, even when family members are willing, they do not have the money for clothes, education, or even food to care for the children who are then oftentimes left on the streets to care for themselves. In addition, because of the severe poverty in Uganda, even children living with their birth parents sometimes lack basic necessities such as food and clothing.

Kanungu

In the far south-western section of the nation we find the newly formed district of Kanungu which comprises nine counties and 415 villages, making up a total population of over 200,000 people.

Most of the people’s lifestyle in this newly formed district is one of mere existence. Their food consists mostly of roots dug from the ground, bananas, and a non-nutritional filler known as matoki. This is why many of them suffer from malnutrition. They live in mud and stick homes with dirt floors that are infested with parasites. Since they have no bedding they sleep directly on the dirt, which results in boils and open sores.

The lack of available education is another major problem in this area. There are a few public schools, but the teaching ratio is approximately eighty students to one teacher. There are no text books or supplies, and the students must pay a small fee which most families cannot afford.

History of our Involvement

Mercy Missions International has chosen this district as the site for one of its developmental projects. Since 2004 we have been able to find sponsors for 100 children through our Dreamaker program and that number continues to increase yearly. The children in the program receive a good education, medical care, two meals a day, shoes, mattresses to protect them from the parasite infestation, and most of all, a new sense of value and hope.

Our next major project to help improve the educational level and the economy of Kanungu is the building of our own private primary school, grades kindergarten through eighth grade. In addition to the creation of new jobs, building our own school will better enable us to control the cost and quality of the education our children receive. The school will be able to provide education for 360 children. 

How you can help

  • Supply bedding so children do not have to sleep on the dirt.
  • Help build a school for the Dreamaker children.