B               BACKGROUND TO ORPHANAGES IN UGANDA   

In Uganda current estimates of orphaned resulting from HIV/AIDS directly or indirectly is estimated to be over five million children. The numbers ever increasing due to natural deaths, accidents and the general poverty levels giving Uganda the average life levels giving Uganda the average life span bellow 48 years! The political and civil strives that result have no tendency to come down, the civil war in the northern Uganda has just subsided and the people are counting the loss that cannot immediately noting that the majority of the people becoming adult orphans.

Besides wars, HIV/AIDS, there are what would be the “normal” orphans resulting from natural death. Uganda being among the least developing nations poverty is rampant, social amenities are quite poor especially sanitation, safe and clean water services medical services are still rudimental bringing mortal death rates, infant mortality averaging 110 children and 1,000 and man.

The total number orphans in Uganda arising from whatever category numerous over five million. There are who may have both parents but their condition comparably to the orphans are of no difference brought about by abject poverty a direct or indirect result of HIV/AIDS or a combination of other tropical disease such as malaria, meningitis, w hoping cough, tuberculosis, diarrhea to mention but a few. The problem is complicated by child abandonment due to poverty stricken single mothers, polygamous family structure who sometimes mistreatment of children by step parents, unwanted children due to unanticipated, unwanted pregnancies, famine and drought stricken areas for example of Karamoja Eastern sending a vast army of a category of equally disturbing scenario of street children whose predicament is worse than those of household orphans.