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Uganda: Italian NGO Builds Day-Care Centre in Luzira Prison

April 3, 2006
Jean-Marie
NsambuKampala

AN Italian NGO operating the Family of Africa Orphanage in Uganda, has built a day-care centre for children whose mothers are jailed at Murchison Bay in Luzira Prison.

It is a state-of-the-art day-care centre located within the premises of the women's prisons unit. The Rotary Club of Port Bell will furnish the centre. They will equip it with play items, utensils, bedding, seats and entertainment facilities.

Fr. Felix Sciannameo, the president of the Family of Africa NGO says the centre will be officially opened on April 21 by Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala.

Sciannameo said the above while receiving 40 mattresses worth sh1m from the Rotary Club at the orphanage in Luzira on Friday.

Chief guest Nakawa chairman Protazio Kintu hailed the orphanage and day-care centre and promised to invite Kabaka Ronald Mutebi to "see the great work done to lessen the suffering of children in his kingdom."

Sarah Odongo, the Rotary Club president, said children jailed with their mothers were not less than their counterparts outside. "It is so unfortunate for them to grow up in jail."

"We do not want children to miss out on life because their mothers are in prison," Odongo said.

"We will train and equip the staff to handle the children well. Women prisoners should stop going for work with their babies strapped on their backs."

Odongo said the project would reduce mothers' anxiety knowing their children would be looked after.

Based in Italy, which has a big percentage of its benefactors, Family of Africa looks after about 100 orphans at the Comboni House in Luzira. They all go to primary school.

Those who finish primary school are sent on to St. John's Boarding Secondary School in Mukono.
Sciannameo said Family of Africa also has a branch in Fort Portal where they own an agricultural project. He said the orphans are brought to him by Government authorities, court, probation or education officers.

Family of Africa plans to build another home for prisoners' children outside the prison soon after the opening of the day care centre. Fr. Sciannameo says the home will target older children who are abandoned by society, after their parents are jailed. "The house will be exclusively for unwanted children of prisoners."

He urged Ugandans to reflect on the principle that only Ugandans can best solve Uganda's problems.