Uganda

Kyampisi Childcare Ministries

Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM), located in Mukono in central Uganda, is a non-governmental organisation founded in 2009 that rehabilitates survivors of child sacrifice, trafficking and other forms of exploitation and runs campaigns against ritualistic mutilation and child sacrifice in that country.  KCM works with police, health system and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Uganda to care, rehabilitate, seek justice and nurture children.

Most survivors in KCM care are children who survive child sacrifice.  Child sacrifice has been defined “as the harmful practice of removing a child’s body parts, blood or tissue of the child while still alive.[1]”  The act of sacrifice usually involves mutilation of body parts which may include genitals, limbs, eyes, and the heart.  These body parts are either worn, buried, or consumed by an individual in the belief that they will assist in several issues: overcoming illness, gaining wealth, obtaining blessings from ancestors, protection, and initiation, assisting with conception, and dictating the gender of the child.  The current death rate is 90% and only 10% survive with mental and physical disabilities they affect throughout their lives with reluctance to attend school and seek medical care.  According to Child Sacrifice and Mutilations (2010) in Uganda report, on average, a child is sacrificed every week and the number is probably much higher as such cases are underreported by local communities.

KCM presently has 91 survivors of child sacrifice and trafficking in its care some of whom suffer from cerebral palsy, scoliosis and kyphosis, fractures, sprains, tendinitis, bursitis and other chronic health problems as well as those in rehabilitation or recovering from orthopaedic surgery.  According to a Ministry of Health Survey (2003) only 2% of over one million people with disabilities in Uganda receive rehabilitation services.

KCM does not have transport to facilitate the movement of those with disabilities to local hospitals, be it for orthopaedic surgery, physiotherapy or addressing their mental health needs.  The alternative of using public transport presents access issues for wheelchairs and strollers and exposes the children to many unnecessary risks including dysfunction, ridicule and abuse.  Sixteen of the survivors in KCMs care cannot do anything for themselves be it feeding, communicating, or sitting up.

[1] Similar to the definition of Human Sacrifice under the Prevention in Trafficking of Persons Act 2009.

[1] Similar to the definition of Human Sacrifice under the Prevention in Trafficking of Persons Act 2009.