Started in 1993 in a makeshift video hall, by Mark Mugwanya, the center now caters for 300 children aged between four- 10 years. Many of these have, since, lost their parents, some never saw any of their parents and majority have tested HIV positive. But, with little assistance, great care, kindness and humility, Mark is doing all that that can to bring a smile on the faces of these boys and girls.
In his makeshift room, that serves as an office, Mugwanya, who is now referred to as 'Daddy' by the children said, “As a young boy who grew up from Kabalagala, Kampala’s known red-light district, I saw what it means to be a ‘father-less child’.”
Mugwanya, popularly known as V.J Mark for his role in interpreting movies into luganda, the country’s leading local dialect, said 90 percent of the beneficiaries are children from single mothers- many of whom are prostitutes who conduct their business in the evenings at Kabalagala, Kansanga and Kikubamutwe areas, the nearby suburbs- synonymous with high prostitution.
“I started by identifying 600 children in 2004 when I, along with local leaders in the area thought it wise to help these children lead a better life. I used part of my proceeds from the film translation to start up this project,” explained Mugwanya.
“But,” he adds, “due to insufficient funds, we picked 300 children, most of them orphans and later to 20 whom we are currently educating from nursery to university under the distant programme.” These are just a few of the orphans and street children that are a common sight on Kampala’s streets.
The government statistics indicate that there are at least 2 million orphans due to HIV/AIDS along in the country.
At Kabalagala Parents, one of the schools where 12 of the beneficiary are studying from, and at St. John Baptist where another six are, life seems to be getting better. The children have toys, play games, are fed on porridge and are taught basic learning skills.
“It is pathetic to see these children playing with filth. Majority are abandoned by their parents who find it hard to fend for them, others are infected by HIV/AIDS, while some have lost their mothers due to the scourge and many will never know who their fathers are,” asserted Mugwanya.
Patricia Kakwezi aged 8 and in Primary two at Kabalagala Parents couldn’t read let alone say her name when she was taken to the school, but today her teacher, Namiro Lydia says she can read and write.
“I am happy that I am here studying though I don’t know who my father is. I hope to study till university and become a doctor,” said the shy Kakwezi.
For Vicky Nalubwama, 7 who is in Primary one, learning is a boost to her happiness. “When I am here I enjoy. I read and play with my friends and hope in future I will struggle to help other orphans,” said Vicky.
The boys who reach eight years and above are taught soccer skills, while the girls learn how to play netball, cookery and good home care management.
With funds from Insieme Si Puo in Africa, an Italian NGO which means, ‘Together we can”, Kiseminti has managed to purchase, balls, playing kits, beds, toys, utensils and secured a large piece of land in Bukasa, near Muyenga where they intend to construct a permanent centre to cater for over 1,000 children.
“Our patron, Giani Cannas and friends such as Lubinga Pereth as well as the Insieme Si Puo country representative, Davide Franzi have been very helpful in contributing towards the sustainability of this charity organization,” he said.
He said that so far, with the little funds that he has received from a few friends, he has managed to help change the lives of the children.
Mugwanya said plans are rife to roll out the service to cater for other orphans and children of prostitutes living in other Kampala slums such as Katanga, Kivulu, Kamwokya, Kisenyi and Kalerwe.
“This is just the beginning of a bigger plan to meet the challenges facing child mothers and children of prostitutes. We are optimistic that with help from government and well-wishers, we shall achieve our goal of helping these disadvantaged children,’ he said.
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