Ms. Zaina Nakubulwa, supervisor for orphans and vulnerable children under Kampala capital city authority said that on average, around 68 to 70 children are abandoned and rescued by KCCA on monthly basis in all the five divisions which includes, Nakawa, Kawempe, Rubaga, Makindye and Kampala central.
Speaking at the commemoration of World Adoption Day held at Makerere University Business School in Kampala on 9th November 2024, Nakubulwa noted that among these children, majority are referred to children-care homes like Sanyu babies’ home and fewer are taken back to thier after a deeper investigation and tracking of these families.
She said that out of the abandoned, about 7 to 10 are adopted on monthly basis by Ugandans families after concluding all court processes.
Under the theme “Celebrating children in adoption” the day was organized by Adoptive Parent’s Initiative in partnership with Uganda child rights NGO network.
“My message on this day is to call upon fellow Ugandans, wherever they are, that we need to create families for the abandoned children, and also to ensure that we prevent unnecessary separation of children from their families, which makes them to end into institutional care” she said
She added the “we are seeing quite a number of Ugandan families that are coming up to take children under foster care and eventually adopting them. So I call upon all Ugandans, wherever they are, to open up their families, to open up their hearts, so that they take on children that are in instructional care.”
Nakubulwa attributed the increased numbers of adoption due to proactive, both the government officers, as well as the staff in institutional care on creating children adoption awareness among Ugandans families.
“We are not now proactive, talking about foster care, talking about adoption. People used to think adoption is for non-Ugandans. They didn’t know that even Ugandans can adopt. But we are on that campaign, and that campaign will still continue because we want Ugandan children to be adopted by Ugandans we want to give priorities to Ugandans” she said.
Shiela Kawamala Mishambi, an adopted parent and co-founder of adoptive parents initiative, said that most of the challenges that they go through including the judgement from community members, and clan members. She said that the way society perceives them is not welcoming at all.
She also talked about difficulties they go through when they are seeking for the national identity card for their adopted children and asked the government to adress this challenge.
Ms. Barbra Mutagubya, the director at Sanyu Babies home said that currently statistics shows that over 50000 children living in child care institutions.
“This is a very big number and sad that on a day like this when we celebrate world adoption day we still have over 50000 children living in over 800 children homes in Uganda.” Ms Mutagubya said.
The government of Uganda committed to strengthen alternative care options and developing national alternative care policy and to support these efforts an alternative care thematic was established through the Uganda child Rights NGO network. She added.
Many children that are living in childcare institutions, they did not choose to be there, many of them come to these institutions when they are babies, some babies are rescued in bushes by Dogs, I imagine a human being delivers a baby and chose to dump her/he in the bush and rescued by a dog. Two months ago at Sanyu Babies home we received a little boy that was rescued by dogs from the busy, he was dumped in a plastic bag
Ms Beatrice Akello, who represented SOS children’s villages said that “We honor the power of family and the live changing impact of adoption. We thank every one who opens up heart to adoption, making this dream a reality for many children out there. At SOS children’s villages we believe every child deserves a safe nurturing family. This commitment is what really drives our work as we strive to provide stable caring environment for children in need.”
She noted that “Adoption is one way we can ensure that every child experiences the warmth of the family and the opportunity for a bright future. We are proud of families who choose adoption becoming the champions of hope for children. The role of a family in child’s life cannot be understated in providing stability, belonging and the foundation for the growth.”
