War-torn Uganda recently made headlines again worldwide when three bombs exploded in Kampala , killing more than 70 people who gathered to watch the Soccer World Cup final.  In 2009, Uganda was brought to the attention of the IFPD by Jamin Eggert, now the IFPD’s representative in California.  Jamin went to Uganda in the summer of 2009 and worked closely with Dr. Opio at the Ayira Nursing Home in Lira, in the north of Uganda. Jamin’s passion for the need in war-torn Uganda was a perfect fit for the goals of the IFPD.

Since then the IFPD has also been in contact with Dr. Wanume Kale, Director of the Great Lakes Rehabilitation Centre in Kampala. The rehabilitation centre also includes a large general clinic with hospital care and collaborates with five other orthopedic workshops is rural Uganda.

According to Dr. Kale only about 20% of the need is covered by the current efforts in Uganda where there are estimated to be over 15,000 amputees and 50,000 polio affected individuals. These need prostheses and braces respectively. One often forgotten aspect of amputee care in Africa is the upper limb amputees.

We asked Dr. Kale for a list of their most urgent needs and he responded as follows:

 “It is difficult to give you an extensive wish list  without sounding ridiculous but we need equipment and materials in the following areas: A functioning physiotherapy unit, Orthopedic equipment and material, Orthotic equipment and materials and General medicine equipments and materials.”

 The IFPD has access to various prosthetic, orthotic, physiotherapy and other medical equipment – ready to be loaded on a container. We need donations and sponsorship to pay for shipping the container to Uganda – estimated cost: $13,500. 

The people of Uganda need help.

We have so much to give.

We need your help.

Uganda’s History

Uganda’s people have endured much suffering in recent history.  Between 800,000 and 2 million people perished during the dictatorship of Idi Amin (1971–1979) and the civil wars, tribal killings, and famines that followed.  For the past two decades, the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has terrorized the northern districts.  Amidst the oppression of this longest-running war on the African continent involving ruthless rebels, hostile ethnic groups, aggressive militias, and government forces all fighting each other, the children of northern Uganda are beginning to see the light of day.  As the government forces the closure of IDP camps (internally displaced people camps) much of the population of northern Uganda has returned to their homes or communities.  However, countless communities have been completely destroyed and families killed, leaving many with nowhere to go and no one to go to.

The People
Uganda is home to many different ethnic groups/tribes, none of whom form a majority of the population. 

Although English is the official language, there are more that 40 regional tribal different languages that are regularly and currently in use in the country.  The most widely spoken regional language is Luganda with Swahili a near second.

Uganda has a very young population, with a median age of just 15 years.

The overwhelming majority of Uganda’s population (84%) are followers of Christianity—Catholicism having the largest number of adherents (42%) followed by the Anglican Church of Uganda (36%).  Muslims make up 12%, other religions constitute 2%, and only 1% of Uganda’s population follows traditional African religions.

 

The Way of Life
About eighty percent of all Ugandans work in agriculture.  Among the crops they cultivate nationally are cotton, corn, tea, and coffee, though most farmers work at the subsistence level, struggling to grow enough to feed their families.  They rarely have surplus food to sell for income that can provide other necessities like clothing and health care. 

Typical Ugandans live in villages made up of small houses sometimes smaller than a garage.  The houses in very rural parts of the country are made of mud with thatched-grass roofs, though there are now an increasing number of houses with corrugated iron roofs.

Uganda has an extended family system where other relatives and distant relations may sometimes live in the same house.  It is not uncommon for small huts to house up to twelve or more people.   There is a very strong sense of community in Uganda and raising children is seen as every one’s responsibility, it is not just left to the parents.  The extended family system in Uganda is very strong.

Polygamy is still common in Uganda where one man can marry more than one wife and as a result some families have very many children.

The Challenges
Orphans and widows are among the hardest hit as they are left to fend for themselves—either on the streets or in the remains of dismantled IDP camps. Psychological and emotional stresses affect all ages. Unresolved trauma resulting from horrific war-time experiences, especially for its northern residents, haunts adults and children alike.

Health care is a great concern for families.  Access to medical facilities is limited and costly.  Without access to even the most basic necessities or services, acute conditions such as malnutrition exist in abundance in children.  Rampant disease including malaria, pneumonia and other treatable illnesses take thousands of lives weekly.

Sources:

www.thecommonwealth.org – map

www.cotni.org