Uganda

The Republic of Uganda is a culturally diverse country landlocked in the heart of East Africa; bordered in the east by Kenya, on the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of beautiful Lake Victoria, within which it shares borders with Kenya and Tanzania.

It has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt and largely untapped reserves of both crude oil and natural gas. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force, with coffee accounting for the bulk of export revenues.

Since the late 1980s Uganda has made a remarkable recovery from civil war and economic catastrophe to become relatively peaceful, stable and prosperous. Sadly the lives of many in the north remain blighted by one of Africa's most brutal rebellions. Its 18-year-long battle against the brutal Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), an extremist rebel group based in Sudan, has led to the abduction of more than 10,000 children. These abductions and continued fighting has led to the displacement of more than 1.5 million people.

In the 1970s and 1980s Uganda was notorious for its human rights abuses, first during the military dictatorship of Idi Amin and then after the return to power of Milton Obote. During this time up to half a million people were killed in state-sponsored violence.

Since becoming president in 1986 Yoweri Museveni has introduced democratic reforms and has been credited with substantially improving human rights. The country has made significant strides in reducing poverty. There has been significant success in tackling HIV/AIDS, with prevalence among expectant mothers falling from 20% in the early 1990s to 6% in 2002 and infection have reached an estimated 7.1% by 2006/7.

Uganda’s eco-friendliness is attested to by the creation of six new national parks under the present administration, as well as the recent growth of community-based eco-tourism projects at the grassroots level. Ecologically, Uganda is where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle. Its a lush country where one can observe lions prowling the open plains in the morning and track chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth the same afternoon, the next day navigate tropical channels teeming with hippo and crocs before setting off into the misty mountains to stare deep into the eyes of a mountain gorilla.

The Kids League (TKL)

Kampala, Uganda

The Kids League has helped thousands of children from different social, economic and religious backgrounds form friendships and, crucially, learn important health issues including HIV/AIDs awareness

The Comboni Samaritans of Gulu

Gulu, Uganda

Providing a holistic approach to fight against HIV/AIDS, care for orphans & vulnerable children and promote enterprise in Gulu.

Kitgum Concerned Women's Association (KICWA)

Kitgum, Uganda

Responding to the needs of formerly abducted children and their families.

The Redeemer Children's & Moyo Babies Home

Moyo District, Uganda

The Sacred Heart Sisters, an African order, established the Redeemer Children's Home in 1998. Over 50 refugee orphaned children aged between 6 and 18 live at the home, and are cared for with devotion by the Sisters.