As Uganda joins African nations in observing the 2026 Day of the African Child, child welfare advocates in Kabale District are urging heightened collective action to safeguard children from various forms of harm.
The commemoration commemorates the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa, a pivotal event that highlighted the global importance of children’s rights and continues to serve as a critical reminder of the need to protect vulnerable youth.
The District Senior Probation Officer, Monica Muhumuza, emphasized the necessity of proactive community engagement and collaboration with child protection organizations to enhance children’s safety and development.
“Some children in Kabale experience abuse and neglect, leading to street life,” Muhumuza noted.
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Muhumuza further underscored her office’s ongoing efforts to educate communities on proper child care while partnering with child protection organizations to improve welfare outcomes.
At Gracevilla Girls’ Home—a shelter established in 2013 for vulnerable girls—residents Desire Kirabo and Doreen Musiimenta shared accounts of hardship that compelled them to seek refuge at the facility.
Founder Ruth Ndyabahika Kendegye revealed the organization has supported over 500 children through strategic partnerships with donors and government agencies.
“Additional governmental assistance, particularly in covering educational costs like school fees, is urgently needed,” Kendegye stated.
She advocated for expanded support to institutions dedicated to providing care, education, and protection for vulnerable children.
According to the 2024 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children Monograph, Uganda hosts 2,873,622 orphaned children, representing ~13% of the child population.
The report further indicates that 1.5% of children aged 10-17 have experienced pregnancy, highlighting persistent challenges including limited access to healthcare and education.
Local child rights advocates affirmed that protecting children demands unified responsibility across families, communities, government institutions, and development partners.
They called for increased reporting of abuse cases, stronger support systems for vulnerable children, and safer environments ensuring access to education, healthcare, and protection.
