Church stuck with orphans
Jul 27, 2006
LEADERS of Jesus Healing Centre Church in Mukono district have been overwhelmed by an influx of orphans, the elderly and the youth seeking help.
By Hillary Kiirya
LEADERS of Jesus Healing Centre Church in Mukono district have been overwhelmed by an influx of orphans, the elderly and the youth seeking help.
On Sunday, there were about 40 orphans, elderly men and women and youth who had camped at the church expecting food and clothing.
Agnes Hough Namale, the church developer, said some orphans had lost their parents to AIDS, while others had fled from battering by step-mothers.
“We are financially constrained but we cannot chase away these children because their stories are so terrifying,†Namale said.
She urged sympathisers to help the children with clothes and other relief items.
The church is on Kayunga Road near Mukono town.
Other leaders of the church, who included Daniel Muwanga and Salongo Kayondo, the church elder, said most help seekers had come miles away from Mukono.
They said orphans had been divided into smaller groups and given to several church members to stay with them at their homes.
Others are assisted with funding from contributions that well-wishers extend to the church, they said.
“It is becoming very expensive to look after these people with the little funds we have at hand,†Kayondo said.
Besides caring for the children, the elderly and the youth, the church has also embarked on training the youth in making handcrafts and farming.
Currently, the church has about 10 acres of land in Mukono, where the youth are carrying out farming.
Ends
LEADERS of Jesus Healing Centre Church in Mukono district have been overwhelmed by an influx of orphans, the elderly and the youth seeking help.
On Sunday, there were about 40 orphans, elderly men and women and youth who had camped at the church expecting food and clothing.
Agnes Hough Namale, the church developer, said some orphans had lost their parents to AIDS, while others had fled from battering by step-mothers.
“We are financially constrained but we cannot chase away these children because their stories are so terrifying,†Namale said.
She urged sympathisers to help the children with clothes and other relief items.
The church is on Kayunga Road near Mukono town.
Other leaders of the church, who included Daniel Muwanga and Salongo Kayondo, the church elder, said most help seekers had come miles away from Mukono.
They said orphans had been divided into smaller groups and given to several church members to stay with them at their homes.
Others are assisted with funding from contributions that well-wishers extend to the church, they said.
“It is becoming very expensive to look after these people with the little funds we have at hand,†Kayondo said.
Besides caring for the children, the elderly and the youth, the church has also embarked on training the youth in making handcrafts and farming.
Currently, the church has about 10 acres of land in Mukono, where the youth are carrying out farming.
Ends