By Ali Mambule

WORLD Vision Uganda has closed its activities in Kakuuto county in Rakai district. Jackson Wafula, the organisation’s southern regional manager, made the disclosure at a farewell ceremony held at the county headquarters on Thursday.

He said although the residents of Kakuuto still needed their services, they had to shift to other areas with more needy people. “One of the things that defined Rakai when World Vision came in 20 years ago was so many child-headed households and orphans living on their own. Today, these people are adults, they are settled and can look after themselves,” Wafula said.

He added that although HIV/AIDS is still a challenge in Kakuuto, those who fall sick receive treatment and are able to work. “This shows that World Vision needs to phase out and allow people to manage their affairs otherwise, we will create a dependency syndrome,” Wafula stated.

He explained that before World Vision extended its services to Kakuuto, the existing facilities could not cope with the large number of clients seeking health care and education services and poverty levels were high.

Wafula said with the introduction of universal primary and secondary education, the National Agricultural Advisory Services and other government programmes, there was no need for World Vision to continue operating in Kakuuto.

Wafula, however, noted that there were still many challenges that needed the local government’s special attention. They include the increasing cases of child sacrifice, the high HIV prevalence rate and the maternal and infant mortality rate.

The area MP, Mathias Kasamba, commended World Vision for uplifting the standards of the residents, especially those who were affected by HIV/AIDS.