Uganda

Letter from Compassion Uganda Director Lenny Mugisha

Dear Sponsor,

I am Lenny Mugisha; I have been the Country Director of Compassion Uganda for three years now, but I have worked with Compassion International for seven years. The three years to me have been years of fervent ministry to children both directly and indirectly.

I like to swim in the evenings after work whenever it is possible. Swimming refreshes me and keeps me in shape for more assignments and duties that await me.

I personally believe that when one is in good health, they are able to accomplish much. I also love to begin my day with personal reflection time. Having communion with God at the start of my day helps me stay focused on what is really important and not get swayed in the busyness of the day.

I am married to Veroh and together we have four lovely children: Wym, 12 years, Pam, 10 years, Tim, eight years, and Jim, who is five years old. By the grace of God, the children are all in school and doing fine.

Compassion has been operational in Uganda for the past 37 years. These have been years of great achievement in the lives of children. Over the years, children have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, acquired income generating and life skills, studied and graduated and most of them are currently contributing to Uganda’s labour force.

We currently have 353 projects and more than 99,500 children that are receiving help in the neediest areas within our reach, in all regions in the country.

As a passionate child advocate, I would like to take this honour to commend you for allowing the Lord to use you to minister to the hearts of disadvantaged children and release them from poverty in Jesus’ name. I want you to know that we appreciate you for your continued support in all aspects. Thank you for loving, praying and caring for your sponsored child.

In the time I have served with Compassion, I have noticed that the children that are in the program stand a higher chance of being successful in life, because they enjoy different opportunities that the children who are not in the program lack. They have an opportunity to learn about the love of Jesus—an aspect we consider vital. In addition, they are assured of health care that enables them to remain physically healthy; education opportunities; a good and safe environment to play and relate to their peers; and they can build friendships with their sponsors through letter writing. Children in the program are very active, happy and sociable.

The children that are not in the program continue to lack all these opportunities—a situation that leaves them vulnerable. Most children and families lack food and water, decent shelter, clothing and health care. They are also faced with obstacles like child marriages, child trafficking and sacrifice, sexual abuse, violence, the HIV/AIDS scourge and many more. Most of the children in the program have been victims of these obstacles and Compassion assists them to overcome the effects from these obstacles.

In 2017, our plan is to work closely with church partners to register more beneficiaries, who are the poorest of the poor children within the unreached communities, minister to them early enough and help them finish well to become responsible and fulfilled adults in their churches, families and nation.

We have very many stories that I would have wished to share with you, but for now, one of them is a story of a child that suffered malaria since he was three years old. He did not receive proper treatment because of poverty, and so he contracted epilepsy. His grandmother carried him one kilometre to a local government hospital. Sometimes there wasn’t even a doctor or nurse to see the child. Sometimes the child did not have a nutritious meal to eat. And, many times, he was discharged without anything more than a medical prescription form. His grandmother would always be asked to buy medicine, but she couldn’t afford it.

This child contracted malaria at least every three months since he was three years old. Each time he fell sick, his grandmother took him to the same hospital. That is all she could afford. But the malaria attacks intensified, and each time he fell sick, he convulsed. With epilepsy came the seizures, and his grandmother stopped him from going to school. She feared what would happen to the boy in case he got an attack and did not receive timely help. The elderly woman grew worried and frustrated as her grandson lost weight and became weak and more ill.

Four months after registration in the program, this child lost consciousness because of malaria. His grandmother rushed him to a hospital where the project staff had asked her to go. The child received treatment since the drugs were available, and on the third day he was discharged. His grandmother was relieved to see her grandson recover faster than usual. In addition to medical interventions, the child received eggs, maize meal flour, peanuts and sugar, so good food helped restore his health.

Without the support of Compassion and the church, this child could have been dead by now, but he isn’t. Instead, he’s now able to play and dream and attend school without the fear that comes from malaria and epilepsy. It was only because he was registered at the Compassion centre that his life was saved.

As a ministry, we are excited to work with the Church because we believe that the Church is a trusted vessel for us to achieve our mission. Besides implementing Compassion’s programs, different churches are involved in different activities that respond to the needs of their communities. Some of the activities include evangelism, discipleship, and ministry to the poor, marginalised, sick, orphans, children, youths, women, men and the elderly.

Several churches run financial institutions such as savings and credit schemes. Community members can easily borrow money for income generating activities at a favourable interest rate.

The churches also organise social events such as sports, music, dance and drama. These social events are some of the ways in which evangelism is done as well as important health information disseminated.

Other churches also have communal resource mobilisation programs. The resources are used for community development programs, such as construction of water sources, roads, community health and parenting sensitisations to address existing community needs. The churches usually spearhead the resource mobilisation ventures due to their good reputation in the community. In addition, the churches network with other institutions to address existing needs.

Most of the children that receive letters from their sponsors are usually happy to know that they have a friend who loves them and cares about them. They usually share their exciting moments with their friends and family members. They always look forward to writing to their sponsors.

Children value and believe each message their sponsor writes to them. They feel valued, especially when their sponsor wishes them a happy birthday. They are encouraged to work hard at school, they look at their sponsors as role models and eventually their attitude towards life is positively influenced by what their sponsors share with them in their letters.

Once again, thank you so much for spending time and money to invest in the life of your sponsored child. I want you to know that we love you and pray for you always. May the Lord bless you abundantly.

I kindly request you to pray for the 11,647 children in the program in Uganda that have not yet got sponsors, and for each child in the program to be released from all forms of poverty.

Faithfully,

Lenny Mugisha

Country Director Compassion Uganda