Child Protection Uganda Project #52356

Restore Hope to Child-Headed Families in Uganda

by Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU)

Project Report | Apr 7, 2026
A new beginning for Baguma

By Anita Balikobaku | Project Leader

Baguma at his home

Baguma (not his real name) is one of many children whose life journey has been shaped by circumstances far beyond his control. Like many children in similar situations, his early years have not been defined by play, learning, and care, but by responsibility, uncertainty, and survival. At a very tender age, Baguma assumed the role of caregiver to his ailing guardian, navigating daily challenges that no child should have to face. His reality has been characterized by limited access to basic needs, including education, proper nutrition, and emotional support.

Without external support, the opportunity for Baguma to attend school would have remained out of reach. His future, like that of many vulnerable children, was at risk of being burdened by hardship and missed opportunities.

However, through the generosity and compassion of donors on the GlobalGiving platform, Baguma’s story is taking a different path. He now has a renewed chance to access education and build a more hopeful and dignified future. Baguma will join 112 other child caregivers currently supported under the Road to Hope Program, an initiative dedicated to supporting children who shoulder caregiving responsibilities for chronically ill parents or guardians.

This program is more than just an education initiative, it is a lifeline. It restores dignity, creates opportunity, and provides care and protection to vulnerable children across 32 districts in Uganda. By becoming part of this program, Baguma is no longer alone in his journey. He joins a growing community of children who are supported not only to return to school but also to heal from their experiences, rediscover their childhood, and thrive in safe and nurturing environments. Baguma will be enrolled in Primary One at a community school in Kakumiro District, which is an important milestone in his life.

The Road to Hope Program is implemented through a partnership between the Center for Hospice Care and https://roadtohopefund.org/with a strong focus on providing holistic support to child caregivers. The program addresses the educational needs, health, psychosocial, emotional, and social well-being of each child. It recognizes that for children like Baguma to truly succeed, their support must go beyond the classroom.

Initially, the program had not planned to enroll additional children in 2026. However, the growing and urgent needs of vulnerable children like Baguma made it clear that expanding support was necessary. Thanks to additional contributions received through GlobalGiving, PCAU has been able to respond to this need and extend its reach to include Baguma.

Like many children in the program, Baguma’s needs are complex and ongoing. In addition to school fees, he requires psychosocial support to help him cope with his experiences, access to basic necessities such as food, clothing, and scholastic materials, and a safe and nurturing environment where he can grow. Continuous follow-up and mentorship are also essential to ensure his well-being and long-term development.

PCAU works closely with families, palliative care nurses, social workers, and local communities to ensure that children like Baguma are enrolled in school and are also supported holistically. This collaborative approach helps children overcome trauma, rebuild their confidence, and regain a sense of normalcy and hope for the future.

Your support for Baguma shows how collective giving, where a single act of generosity can open doors for a child to learn, belong, and dream again. Through your kindness, Baguma will no longer be defined by his challenges but by the possibilities ahead of him.

Thank you.

PCAU Team visit Baguma

Links:

About Road To Hope Program

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Dec 4, 2025
SHiNE Child Project Report December 2025

By Hope Tayebwa | Project Leader

SHiNE Child Project report

Hope Tayebwa

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Southwestern Uganda with a team from the Palliative Care Association of Uganda. I share with you all partners and friends of the Special Hearts to Nature Every Child (SHiNE) Program, my insights on the trip. The Program is supporting families with severely sick children in four districts in south-western Uganda.

The SHiNE Child Program under Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) is an initiative that supports children living with chronic illnesses such as cancer, sickle cell disease, and diabetes. The program recently made a trip to Western Uganda, where this project operates, to understand the challenges faced by health workers, patients, and families, while exploring opportunities to enhance cancer navigation and palliative care services in the region.

Each year, an estimated 3,278 children and adolescents develop cancer in Uganda, but only a third of them reach treatment, the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has revealed.

According to Dr. Banabas Atwine, the Clinical Head of The Paediatric Cancer and Haematology Unit at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, in Uganda, the statistic could be translated to say that approximately ten children are diagnosed with cancer daily across Uganda. Many of these children are either missed or misdirected to facilities that cannot provide adequate care. Dr. Atwiine also notes that Community Volunteers and Nurses lower health facilities and in community are often the first point of contact for the sick. Yet, they lack the training and tools to identify children with cancer early. This gap delays referral and treatment, worsening outcomes.

Other challenges faced in the children’s cancer sector may include;

Financial Strain and Treatment Abandonment

Families face severe financial challenges. Cancer medicines can cost over one million shillings, forcing households to sell property or abandon treatment altogether. Even when patients begin therapy, many drop out midway due to lack of funds. Some families believe that if a child looks healthy outwardly, treatment is unnecessary, further contributing to abandonment. The hospital hostel has helped reduce this problem by providing food and accommodation, but sustainability remains a concern.

Health System Limitations

The health system is primarily oriented toward acute illnesses such as malaria, which are treated quickly. Chronic diseases like cancer require prolonged diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, which the system is not adequately prepared for. There are only a handful of oncology nurses, and many lack training in palliative care, psychosocial support, and pain management. Frequent stock-outs of chemotherapy drugs and laboratory reagents disrupt treatment schedules, leaving families frustrated and hopeless.

Psychosocial and Nutritional Needs

Beyond medical treatment, children and families face psychosocial challenges. Counseling services are limited, and many families struggle emotionally with the stigma and burden of cancer. Nutrition assessment is also lacking, yet malnutrition worsens treatment outcomes. A dedicated palliative care nurse could help address these gaps by offering counseling, end-of-life preparation, and family support.

Despite these challenges, the SHINE Child Program has progress and offered notable solutions to the pain and suffering that children suffering from cancer would otherwise face unattended.The program has supported 67 children and their families. . The program has supported screening, diagnosis, access to treatment, and accommodation, which has reduced abandonment rates. Families express appreciation for home visits, which provide not only medical care but also emotional reassurance.

Community support is essential, especially for families in rural areas who face isolation and poverty. Hospital administration support is critical for sustainability, and volunteers play a vital role but need supervision and facilitation.

Transport remains a pressing need; health workers require motorcycles or allowances to reach villages where children cannot access hospital services.

Proposed Solutions

To address these challenges, several solutions have been proposed:

Training primary health workers and community nurses in early cancer identification and palliative care.
Increasing awareness through radio talk shows, community meetings, and sensitization campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage early detection.
Strengthening hospital systems by ensuring consistent drug supply, supporting laboratories, and integrating palliative care into routine reporting.
Establishing nutrition services and psychosocial counseling to improve holistic care.
Engaging partners such as Rotary and Lions Clubs, hospital administration, and local stakeholders in fundraising and resource mobilization.
Developing survivorship care systems to monitor long-term effects and relapses.
Continuous training for health workers on pain assessment and management.

PCAU and Kitagata Hospital agreed on the need to develop a 2026 Work Plan that outlines priorities for cancer navigation and palliative care. This plan will quantify the basic needs of children, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and identify sustainable donor-supported interventions. Fundraising strategies will involve hospital leadership, community organizations, and national partners to ensure continuity of the SHINE Child Program.

Joshua’s story

Joshua is a young boy living with his father, who has faced many challenges while caring for him. Joshua’s father, once married before, has children from his previous relationship. His current wife has just given birth, making the family responsibilities even heavier. Despite these circumstances, Joshua’s father remains the breadwinner, striving to provide for everyone.

In 2022, Joshua was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of childhood cancer. The diagnosis brought immense challenges, including the need for a colostomy bag, frequent hospital visits, and the emotional toll of battling a life-threatening illness.

The family’s living conditions are not favourable, and transport to treatment centres such as Musarara and the Uganda Cancer Institute has been a major obstacle. These difficulties have made it hard for Joshua to access consistent care.

Joshua’s journey took a positive turn when he was discovered by the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) team during a Mobile Hospice Mbale outreach. He was enrolled under the SHINE Child Program, which provides support for children with chronic illnesses. Through this program, Joshua and his family have received transport assistance, colostomy bags, and other essential support.

This intervention has brought steady improvement in Joshua’s condition and renewed hope for the family.

Joshua’s father and family are deeply grateful to the supporters and well-wishers who have walked with them during this difficult journey. They acknowledge the kindness of those who have provided transport, medical supplies, and encouragement. Their appreciation extends to all who continue to stand with children like Joshua, ensuring they receive care and dignity despite the challenges of chronic illness.

Links:

Attachments:

SHiNE_Child_Project_Report_December_2025.pdf (PDF)

1 Attachment

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Aug 18, 2025
A triumphant story of a Girl Child from Uganda

By Mark-Donald Mwesiga | Project Leader

She was given a chance to beat the odds by compassionate donors to PCAU.

Working out with a spacial client who is one of the destiny helpers.

Here is another inspiring story of one of our beneficiaries on the Road to Hope Program, A lady from the Hoima Region, Uganda where most reently oil deposits were discuovered by the Uganda govenment. The young woman who has overcome life’s challenges with determination and courage. She remaines committed to completing her course in Hairdressing and Salon Practice and has recently set up her own salon in Hoima City subub. Teh dream is to expand it and to use the proceeds to support other vulnerable girls in addition to supporting the ailing grandmother.

Orphaned at a young age, she faced not only the pain of losing her parents but also the stigma and discrimination that orphans often endure in her community. As a child left to care for herself, she struggled with a lack of basic necessities. Her mother, who was diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, received support from Little Hospice Hoima before her passing. The girl was forced to drop out of school due to financial hardships. She spent a year at home under the care of her maternal grandmother, whose small income from selling roasted cassava on a roadside. The income from this trade was barely enough to support the family of two very yound girls and their grandmother. "Life was tough" she says.

Eventually the grandmother fell so sick and was enroled into a hospice program. Thats how the young girl was located as a child caregiver. That is way back in 2016. The child was enrolled on teh program supported by the Center for Hispoce Care in USA and the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU).

It was through PCAU’s involvement that the girl was able to enroll in Primary school again, giving her a chance to continue her education. This moment marked the beginning of a transformative journey that changed her life forever.

The program covered her school fees, provided scholastic materials, and ensured the family received basic needs. With the help of the program, Mary progressed in primary and secondary school. After finishing secondary school, the program facilitated her enrollment in a vocational institution where she pursued a course in hairdressing and gained skills in operating a ladies’ salon business. She knew that this skill would help transform her family’s struggles into opportunities. Determined to uplift her family, she was committed to completing her training.

Graduation day.

Upon completing her course, PCAU continued its support of her entrepreneurship endeavors. She established a hair dressing kiosk with a startup support from PCAU in 2024. Today, the business operates daily, and although it’s still growing, Mary is able to save little money weekly through a savings group. Her savings are reinvested in her salon, which supports her working capital and provides towards a liter of milk and other feeding requirement for her ailing grandmother back home.

With the support of PCAU, she recently acquired a pedicure foot spa, allowing her to expand the services she offers and attract more customers to the area. Although Mary has made significant progress, she still faces some financial issues espacially due to the several financial needs by her grandmother. She remains grateful for the program’s guidance and support as she continues to grow her business and support her grandmother back home.

The program continues to support the young girl and the other girls on the program. Without the support, it would have been extreamly difficut for the young girl to grow into a caring role to her grandmother. They now have a better shelter and she looks to the future with hope.

There is so much transformation that comes along the support PCAU recieves from the generous donors.

Links:

Road to Hope Program Stories

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