Friday, November 18, 2011

RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS CAUSING MAJOR IMPACT ON UGANDANS.

“I don't know if you realize what a great deal of influence you gave me all my life. I just want to let you know how important you've been to me and how much I'll always love you. Thank you for loving me” said Innocent Mwanja at his graduation in gratitude to Children of Uganda, a religious organization founded in the early 1990s by the Daughters of Charity to fight for child rights in conflict areas, and promote children’s welfare in Uganda.
Just like Innocent many people in Uganda today owe their wellbeing to such religious organisations helping the needy most of who, happen to be orphans, widows and/or elderly.
It is also on record that major religious organizations in Uganda like Uganda joint Christian council have become significantly involved in AIDS prevention, campaigning for equal rights among people, and others like Sanyu Babies’ home have specialized in offering services to the needy children who are dumped on garbage pits.
According to information on Sanyu babies’ home website www.sanyubabies.com, there are over 2.3 million known orphans in Uganda more than any other nation in the world today. The home receives children ranging in age from a few hours to two years, with no known parents or relatives, and is dedicated to providing these children with love, security, medical care and education. We provide them with a Home.
According to Ms. Sylvia Atungosa, the coordinator NGO activities in Karamoja region, Faith Based Organisations are joining many other actors in the global fight against HIV/AIDS and can offer our specific resources and strengths.
“It is fair to say that FBOs have often played a positive role in Uganda’s fight against HIV/AIDS. Involving religious leaders early on in the planning and implementation of national AIDS strategies have seen dramatic changes in the course of the epidemic. For example, religious communities in karamoja, working hand in hand with AIDS service organizations and the government, have championed peer education, counselling and home care programmes” she says.
Iga Aisha of Lucia Youth Development Foundation (LUYDEFO), an organization founded to help Moslem girls in six districts says that over 12000 needy primary school pupils have been assisted by her organization to attain education since it started five years ago.
Anglican Bishop joseph Abura of Karamoja Diocese and a member of Moroto-Nakapiripirit Religiuos Leaders Initiative for Peace (MONARIP) adds to say that some religious organisations in the war torn areas of northern Uganda are still fully engaged in the rebuilding of peace in the area, and others are more in the construction industry.
“More than 5,000 children who had been abducted by the LRA have been reunited with their families after receiving basic medical care, psychosocial counseling and family-tracing support in reception centers put by the church” he says.
In Kampala alone apart from preaching the gospel several religious or faith based organisations have been involved feeding and getting disadvantaged children off the streets turning them into recognizable citizens today.
In the area of health most major hospitals in the country are founded on religious backgrounds health facilities like Rubaga hospital, Mengo Hospital, Kibuli Muslim hospital, Nsambya Hospital to mention but a few. These are known to offer excellent services to the nation just to complement to overly stretched government health facilities.