BUWENDA VILLAGE
JINJA, UGANDA
It is also a community hub, investing in future generations through education and development.
THE REALITY
Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, is a beautiful country with a difficult past, a challenging present, and a promising future. Conflict persists in its northern region, it is home to over 2.5 million orphans, well over half the population is under the age of 18, and nearly 40% of Ugandans live in poverty.
Buwenda village, in the Jinja District of Uganda, is one of the poorest villages in the country. The people of Buwenda are primarily subsistence farmers who live peasantry lives. Illiteracy levels are high and superstitious beliefs are commonplace. The area is also continually ravaged by jiggers (the chigoe flea, a parasite that attacks the feet), extreme poverty and disease. And all too often, well-intentioned and desperate parents send their kids away in hope of education and opportunity, and those children are turned into slaves.
ABOUT UGANDA
Population: 39.03 million; 49.9% population under age 15
Area: 93,065 sq mi
Year of Independence: 1962
PEOPLE IN UGANDA
Education:
- 73.2% literacy rate
- Uganda’s youth literacy rate is 87.6%
Health:
- 59 year life expectancy (up 11 years since 1990)
- 1.5mil people living with HIV/AIDS
- 74.8% of population using improved drinking water sources
POVERTY IN UGANDA
Pop. Living In Poverty: 38% (13.6 million)
Orphan Pop: 2.5 million orphans (1.2 million orphaned by AIDS)
HIGH RISKS IN UGANDA
Trafficking
- Ugandan children as young as 7 are exploited in forced labor. Forced child labor occurs in agriculture, cattle herding, mining, stone quarrying, brick making, car washing, scrap metal collection, bars, restaurants & the domestic service sector; girls & boys are also exploited in prostitution.
- 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report, Uganda
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THE LOCAL LEADER
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