St. Moses Children’s Care Centre was founded in the early 1970’s by the late Mama Jane Babirye, who saw the great need for a home for orphans, abandoned, displaced and destitute children. After traveling widely for 12 years dancing and acting in Europe and USA she settled back in her mother land and adopted 2 children, Jane and Moses by then still babies. She named the home after the boy. She gathered more orphans and needy children, welcomed mothers with their starving children, instructed them in child care and nutrition and kept them until the children were healthy. Mama Jane so named by everyone was in closer contact with churches, hospitals, the welfare office and the police. She later died in March 1983. Since then African Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE) together with the Church of Uganda and the local Community managed the Centre with funds from Kindernothilfe (KNH) Germany. The funds from Kindernothilfe Duisburg were gradually reducing since 2005 and eventually phased out in 2009.Currently the Centre’s sources of funding include the following;
- Individual donors from Germany.
- The OMOANA, SidEcole and Nouvelle Planet Organizations based in Switzerland.
- The Centre’s Income Generating Projects.
The Centre is managed by a Management Board consisting of the member of the Church as the chairperson, the Community representatives, Probation officer and African Evangelistic Enterprise representatives. All these are responsible for Policy making and follow up of Centre activities. The staff implement Centre activities. The Management Board and the staff comprise the following;
Management Board members
Name & Designation
- Ven. Kabuuka Ignatius Chairman
- Ms. Naigaga Lydia Probation Officer – Buikwe
- Mr. Katende Ronald Community representative (Was appointed as RCC Masaka City and might not be able to continue serving)
- Rev.Paul Hannington Ssubi Community representative
- Mrs Laura Steel Assistant treasurer
- Mrs. Nambi Lillian Administrator/ Secretary
- Mrs. Gaby Kisitu Advisor /Treasurer (Went back to Germany but still in touch)
NOTE: Appointment letters of all the members above got expired years back)
Staff members with their positions.
- Ms Nambi Lillian -Administrator
- Mr. Mugerwa Noah Robert -Accounts Assistant
- Ms. Sanyu Anna Mary -Community Development Officer
- Ms. Nazziwa Josephine -Social Worker
- Ms. Marion Nakakande -Community Facilitator
- Ms. Tusiime Justine -Accounts Assistant Micro Credit
- Ms Annet Nansubuga -Matron
- Ms Namukasa Carolyne -Matron/Gardner
- Ms Jane Nakayima -In charge of the weaving workshop
- Mr. Emmanuel Tumusabe -Office attendant/General Cleaner
- Mr. Isaac Wodeya -Compound attendant/Driver
- Mr. Mpamize Samuel -Farm manager
- Ms. Nabirye Aisha -Boarding section cook
- Mr. Sembatya Jimmy -Butema Garden Attendant
- Mr. Serugo Manday -Farm attendant
- Mr. Magomu Deo -Farm attendant
102 children are supported with school fees and scholastic materials under community based care. Primary 6 and 7 are accomodated at the boarding section during school time due to their tight school schedule and are provided with school fees, Medication, clothes, shelter and other basic needs. Children are supported at different levels as follows;
University | Vocational Institutes | Secondary | Primary | Total |
6 | 29 | 43 | 24 | 102 |
To ensure Community development and self sustenance in future especially among guardians, St. Moses runs a Micro Credit Program where guardians in their respective groups are given loans at a flat rate of 15% for 6 months to start and maintain Income Generating Projects. Through such projects they are able to save and accumulate their own income to be able to provide their children with basic needs. To date 75 women groups of 15-20 members each are directly benefiting from this Project and approximately 2228 children indirectly do.
To enable the Centre’s future self sustenance, the following Income Generating Projects are implemented;
- The cow project
This consists of 7 cows.
- Piggery
This was started in 2008 and it constitutes 35 pigs to date.
- Fruit growing project
Presently the Centre has orange trees, avocadoes, Mangoes, pineapples, and guavas which produce fruits that complement children’s diet and others sold for income generation if in excess.
- Volunteers‘ housing project
Volunteers who come to do some work at St. Moses Children’s Care Centre also support the Centre through this Project. Some of the houses are rented out to inerested community people. Rent income paid subsidizes the Centre’s income.
- Weaving workshop
Products including bikooyi scalves, paper necklaces, earrings, hand bags, sweaters wallets among others produced in this workshop are sold for income generation.
GENERAL ACHIEVEMENTS REGISTERED SO FAR
- At least 1000 children have passed through St. Moses Children’s Care Centre. At least 30 were able to graduate from reputable Universities and others acquired skills certificate and diplomas from reputable Institutions. It is worthy noting that some are already employed and self sustaining.
- On the road to being self sustaining, at the Centre a number of income Generating Projects have been initiated; including the Cattle Project, the piggery, guest houses among others.
- To see self sustenance among guardians of especially Communities where supported children come from, a Micro Credit scheme was put in place.
- 5 acres of land were purchased to enable the growing of food on a large scale to reduce on expenditure on food.
- 3 acres of land were purchased to start the Centre’s animal farm.
CHALLENGES
- Since the phasing out of funds from Kindernothilfe Duisburg in 2009, the Centre is being supported by mostly individual donors. This is indeed a challenge as some donors are not so reliable since their fund assistance has chronically been fluctuating. This has been occasioned by the Global economic crunch and the donor fatigue.
- Failure of donors to fund tangible Projects like buildings (guest houses, shops, etc) for income generation in future claiming that they are not directly linked to the children.
- Non involvement of AEE and Church (trustees) in the Centre’s activities as far as fundraising funds is concerned. ( AEE lacks representation at the Management Board).
- Unclear partnership status of the Centre with African Evangelistic Enterprise (the trustees) despite several emails to inquire about the same.
- AEE’s bureaucracy that is still keeping some of the Centre activities at a stand still.g updating the Centre’s status as a company at the registrar of companies, Payment of company returns arrears that requires a mentioning of all directors yet they are not clearly stated, recruitment of Board members and their registration at the reistrar of companies, aquiring a licence for the Micro Credit Project that also requires AEE’s conscent since ammendments have to be done in the Constitution as advised by the Centre Lawyer,etc.
- Non representation of AEE on to the St. Moses Primary School Mangement Committee.
- Ownership of the Centre is not well defined, thus affecting some Centre activities, E.g Processing land titles for the 2 new pieces of land that were purchased.
FUTURE PLANS
- Start more Income Generating Projects and highly boost existing ones for self sustenance.
- Boost community Development initiatives through the Micro credit project in the fight against dependency syndrome.
- Implement skills development trainings among the youths of the surrounding communities for their well being and community development if partnership with BRAC effected.
Prepared by,
Nambi Lillian
Administrator
11th 08 2023
RE: CONDOLENCE MESSAGE
The Management Board, Staff and Children of St. Moses Children’s Care Centre with deep sorrow regret the death of “maama” the mother to their Management Board member, Mr. Katende Ronald.
Although no words can really help to soothe the loss the family members bear, we let you know that you are very close in our every thought and prayer.
A sum of 200,000ugx is enclosed to give a hand in the organization of the burial ceremony.
May her soul rest in eternal peace!
MANAGEMENT!!