 There are currently 1.9 million orphans in Uganda. These often live with their grand-parents or with ailing parents who are too weak to give them the care and attention they need.
They are given the chores, such as fetching water, sometimes several kilometres away, or gathering firewood. They often don’t get any schooling worthy of the name.
We have had to face a number of tough cases in Uganda – malnourished children, lacking medical care and basic standards of hygiene, are left with their grand-mothers who, in turn, are ill, aged and sometimes alcoholic.
Among these orphans who, on a daily basis, have to face life with courage, some also have to struggle with illness. In 2006, according to the UN, Uganda had 110,000 HIV-positive children.
By the end of 2002, 111,495 had already died from AIDS.
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