Nsambya Babies Home Reunites 225 Children with Families Despite Funding Shortfalls and Rising Abandonments

Nsambya Babies Home has made significant strides in child welfare, reuniting 225 children with their families and placing 65 others in foster care over the past three years. This effort comes despite a sharp rise in child desertions nationwide.

Uganda Police highlight a troubling trend, with 1,200 desertion cases recorded in 2025 alone, even as overall child-related crimes fell from 13,489 in 2022 to 8,064 in 2024. Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owesigire noted regional hotspots like North Kyoga with 158 cases and Makindye with about 58 annually, warning that many incidents go unreported as children end up on streets or at police stations.

“Abandoning a child is a crime,” Owesigire emphasized, urging parents to take full responsibility. He cited a recent Wakiso case where a couple left their child at a lodge over unpaid fees.

Sister Maria Teddy Nakyanzi, the home’s director, reported caring for 396 children from 2023 to 2025, achieving a 73.2% reintegration rate. In 2023 alone, 117 children were handled, with 75 returned to families and 13 fostered.

Funding remains a hurdle. The home raised Shs367.1 million over three years, leaving Shs208 million after expenses, including Shs49.5 million for medical care and Shs70.8 million for tracing efforts. Yet, resources fall short for rising demands from police and facilities.

A fundraising walk launched on May 5 aims to support tracing, medical services, and placements, with a major event set for July 25. Rev. Rogers Kabuye Mukasa of Kampala Archdiocese quoted Pope Leo XIV, stressing that no child should be forgotten and every deserves dignity and love.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)