Three abandoned children in Luweero District have been granted access to education for the next four years, courtesy of the Kavutse Foundation, totaling a scholarship value of Shs100 million.
These children were among the eight rescued by the Luwero District Probation Office after being abandoned by their parents and subsequently transferred to Happy Times Childcare Initiative. Following their enrollment at Happy Times Junior Primary School and successful completion of the Primary Leaving Examinations in 2023, all three achieved first division scores.
As they sought admission to secondary school, the children faced uncertainty when their sponsors at Happy Times Childcare Initiative announced financial constraints. However, the Kavutse Foundation intervened on Tuesday, offering full scholarships for the entire ‘O’ level cycle at their chosen schools for three of the eight children.
The beneficiaries include Jackie Birungi Nakijoba, Daniel Muwanguzi, and Brian Kuteesa, all of whom expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue their education despite their challenging backgrounds.
Paul Kasule, the Public Relations Officer of the Kavutse Foundation, emphasized that the Foundation was moved by the children’s appeal for support through the media and aims to empower them to achieve their aspirations.
Joyce Namigadde, Director of Happy Times Childcare Initiative, expressed gratitude for the Foundation’s response to their appeal, emphasizing the continued need for support to ensure all children can access education amid budgetary constraints exacerbated by COVID-19.
Despite this positive intervention, Luwero District continues to grapple with cases of child desertion, with 91 cases reported in 2022 alone, making it the second district with the highest number of desertion cases in the country.
