Kabarole district lacks funds to supervise the operations of orphanages, giving room to the homes to operate below the required standards.
Records at the district department of community development indicate there are fifteen orphanage homes in the district being operated by individuals. The proprietors receive support from the donors.
According to the standards set by the district, the orphanage homes are supposed to have girls’ and boys’ dormitories, adequate sanitation facilities, a perimeter fence and a clinic.
However, some of the orphanage homes visited by Uganda Radio Network in the district lack the required standards.
Unlike other districts like Bundibugyo and Kyenjojo who often supervise the homes and have closed homes which are poorly managed, Kabarole district is yet to act.
At Kijura orphanage home with a population of eighty orphans aged 13-18 years, girls and boys share a dormitory. Some of the children sleep on the floor because the beds are few. There is also one toilet at the home shared by the children and staff.
Betty Natugonza, the matron says that some children have been sleeping on the floor for over six months. Natugonza says that the proprietor of the home promised to purchase beds.
She adds that water and electricity at the home was disconnected and the children have no option but to collect water from water sources that are far away from the home.
Asked if the district authorities have inspected the home, Natugonza says that they came in 2009 when the home was being officially opened and since then they have never returned.
At Busoro orphanage home in Busoro Sub County, there are thirty orphans who stay in an incomplete dormitory shared by boys and girls. The dormitory has no ceiling, windows and a section of it has been turned into a kitchen.
Frank Kagenda, a staff at the home says the children eat only one meal a day because the home lacks funds. Kagenda says that the proprietor, James Mugenyi went to United Kingdom in April but has never returned.
Kagenda explains that children are surviving on food from residents neighboring the home. He notes that some children have escaped from the home and gone back to their guardians’ homes because of poor facilities at the home.
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Monica Nyakake, the Director SOS Children’s home at Butebe in Karambi Sub County says that 40 children from other orphanages have been brought to the home by the guardians.
Tadeo Balisanga, the senior community development officer Kabarole district admits there is laxity on the part of the district to supervise the operations of the homes, which he blames on meager resources required to carry out supervision.
Balisanga says that he has requested the Chief Administrative Officer for more funds to enable carry out effective supervision.
The department is allocated 200 million shillings every financial year which is shared by five offices under the department.
