Children seek help to build collapsing shelter
Livingstone Ssempebwa (L) and Francis Ssekatawa in their makeshift shelter in Kikooba village, Bukomero Sub-county, Kiboga District. COURTESY PHOTO
Kiboga
They are 17 and 14 years old respectively, but grief, neglect and misery are painted on their faces. Life’s circumstances have made Livingstone Ssempebwa and Francis Ssekatawa adults since they were little.
Ssekatawa and Ssempebwa might need rain to grow food but they cannot smile whenever skies open as the roof over their makeshift shelter is wide open. Their house in Kikooba village, Bukomero Sub-county, Kiboga District is soon collapsing on them. “Our mother died and left us here,” Ssempebwa says.
By the time she died in March this year, she had separated from their father. The boys had watched as their father repeatedly battered their mother. She later quit the marriage, constructed the makeshift house where she lived until she died.
Ssempebwa and Ssekatawa were left helpless even when their father married a widow a couple of kilometres away. “He doesn’t care about us,” says Ssempebwa.
Their neighbour contacted a local charity organisation; Education and Development Opportunity – Uganda (EDOU), which provides education sponsorships to vulnerable children.
With EDOU’s support, they returned to school. Ssempebwa says he wants to enroll for a motor vehicle mechanics course.
However, Mr Brian Mutebi, EDOU’s founder, says the organisation does not have enough funding for him to get his dream. “I appeal to individuals and companies out there to support efforts of reconstructing the lives and dreams of these children,” Mr Brian says.
“Our immediate need is to build a house for them because the makeshift structure they are living in could soon collapse on them,” he says.
For help: Mobile money number is 0782378219
