President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to sponsor one child in each SOS village in Uganda as his commitment and support to the compassionate work by SOS villages international in Uganda.

The President made the pledge at a meeting with a delegation of SOS Children’s villages worldwide led by the President Helmut Kutin at State House in Nakasero. The President also made a toast to the founder of SOS villages Herman Gmeiner who died at the age of 92 for his compassionate work for children and the youth.

President Museveni

Hermann Gmeiner the founder of SOS villages, under the theme, “A loving home for every child,” was born in 1919 and from 1949 to his death 25 years ago; he dedicated his life to work for children and the youth. As a result of the misery of the war orphans, abandoned children and youths, the barely 30-year-old medical student, who himself had been affected by the early loss of his own mother, developed the SOS Children’s Village idea. In 1949 he founded the “Societies Socialis” (SOS) together with friends in Innsbruck, a society, which a year later was converted to the association “SOS Children’s Village”.

President Museveni said the challenge facing many children and young people today is the lack of development of the society and the economy, noting that for children to progress, the need money invested in various infrastructures.

“The main challenges of children are the challenges of most of society. Uganda is rich in natural resources but these have not been developed to their full potential including land, mineral resources, energy and human resource development. To look after children you need money. Money is from taxes and taxes are from investments,” he said.

The President emphasized on education and social infrastructure, job creation through industrialization, food security and income generation to promote stable families.

The President of SOS villages Helmut Kutin hailed President Museveni for his support and understanding of their work in Uganda, saying the organization had opened a fourth orphanage in Fort Portal after several others in Entebbe, Kakiri and Gulu. He called on the Uganda government to support the orphanages in terms of upkeep for the orphans.

The President later signed a painting by Roland Tibirusya symbolizing the partnership between Uganda and SOS International.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias