New Reports Indicates that 1.5 Children in Uganda Lack Parental Care

A new report by SOS International indicates that more than 1.5 million children in Uganda lack parental care.

According to Derge Wordofa, the Director SOS International for East and Southern Africa, the 1.5million figure excludes children who are at risk of losing parental care due to poverty and illnesses among others.

Wordofa was speaking during the launch of a fundraising campaign for SOS Children's Villages, Uganda under the theme "Every Child Deserves a Chance. Be That Chance".

SOS International is a child rights advocacy nongovernmental organization. 

The campaign seeks to collect 6 billion Shillings to help carter for 11,000 children under the organization for the next three years. The organization has been operating for over 25 years in Kakiri, Gulu, Fort Portal and Entebbe, currently has 6,800 children.

Derge described investing on children and young people as a smart business, and that the campaign is founded on partnership of different stakeholders including government; community based organized and the private sector.

He said that the campaign has a practical chance to mobilize Ugandans to actively engage in supporting child development and growth in the country.

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga who officiated at the launch of the fundraising campaign said her plans are to convene the parliamentary commission to identify interventions towards the plight of children without parental care in the country.