Florence Alamai Edumu, a resident of Soroti City in Campswahili B ward, is enduring a heart-wrenching situation as she looks after her daughter’s three children, including a 7-year-old Chinese boy. This follows the death of her daughter, Gorreti Ajumo, also known as Akello, who had worked as a chief chef with the China Communication Construction Company Limited (CCCC). Ajumo had been in a relationship with a Chinese man, who remains anonymous, and they had a son together.
However, after the couple separated when Ajumo moved to Kampala, she passed away in Mukono under mysterious circumstances. Alamai was devastated when she received a call informing her that her daughter had been found dead in her home. She immediately traveled to Mulago mortuary, where Gorreti’s body was retrieved for burial in Asuret Sub County, Soroti District.
In the aftermath of her daughter’s passing, Florence found herself caring for her daughter’s three children, including the young Chinese boy who was left alone in the house following Gorreti’s death. Florence now faces the immense challenge of raising the boy, who has specific dietary needs and only consumes traditional Chinese food—items that are difficult to find in Soroti.
With no stable source of income, Florence is struggling to meet the child’s needs, including education, nutrition, and other necessities, while also caring for her other grandchildren. Michael Oumo, the chairperson of LC1 Campswahili B ward, has been a strong advocate for Florence and her family. He first became involved in July 2022, when police informed him of Gorreti’s death and the discovery of her young son locked alone in the house. Oumo, along with residents, assisted Florence in retrieving the child and organizing Gorreti’s burial.
As a neighbor, Oumo has seen firsthand the difficulties Alamai faces in caring for her grandchildren and managing the family’s daily needs. Despite these challenges, Florence continues to manage her responsibilities, including paying rent, with little support. Oumo has taken it upon himself to help Florence by writing letters to various officials, including the Resident District Commissioner of Katakwi, to secure assistance for the family during this difficult time.