Uganda targets illegal orphanages

At least 60 illegal orphanages and children's homes in Uganda are being funded by UK charities, church groups and volunteers. BBC News reports that the Ugandan Government recently announced a programme to close down more than 500 unlicensed orphanages and urged UK donors to check who they were funding. ‘If you are interested in supporting these children, don't just go put money into a home which is unlisted,’ said government official Pius Bigirimana. The UK charity Hope and Homes for Children is assisting the Ugandan Government in its work to keep children in their families, rather than living in institutions. Its CEO Mark Waddington said the number of children living in orphanages had grown from just under 2000 in the 1990s to more than 55 000 today. He said orphanages were now seen as ‘an economy’.