Income generating projects meant to improve the welfare of vulnerable children in Kyenjojo district are lying in limbo.
Three local Non Governmental Organizations established carpentry, wielding, poultry and piggery projects to help about 400 vulnerable children in Kyenjojo district. But the projects have proved dormant and the initiators are threatening to close them down as the children continue to loiter in the town.
In February, Child Needs, a local NGO set up a fully equiped carpentry workshop in Nyantungo Sub County, but since then no activity has taken place.
Nelson Kairu, the executive director Child Needs, says that over 10 million shillings was spent on establishing the project but it has not benefited the target group. Kairu blames the district authorities for failing to identify the vulnerable children who would benefit from the project.
Kairu says that the failure of the children to embrace the projects exposes the district’s ineffectiveness in dealing with children issues.
In Nyankwanzi Sub County, Save the Needy child, an NGO set up four metal wielding and carpentry workshops in January but they have also never been utilized. Charles Ruzahura, the Save the Needy community officer blames the local leaders for not supporting the NGOs to identify vulnerable children. He says that they have held several meetings with the leaders over the matter but nothing seems to work out.
Ruzahura says the projects will be relocated to either Kyegegwa or Kabarole, if Kyenjojo district does not show interest in a month's time.
But Thomas Bagonza, the senior community development officer Kyenjojo faults the NGO's for the lapse in activity. He say the NGOs are setting up projects without the approval of the district community development department. He
admits that the district has been reluctant to identify vulnerable children, because they do not know the intentions of the NGOs.
But Uganda Radio Network has seen a copy of a letter written and signed by Bagonza addressed to Charles Mubiru, the Resident District Commissioner Kyenjojo approving the operations of the three NGOs.
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