Welcome to Abaana Ministries Uganda Limited (AMUL)! Here in Uganda, we are very grateful to all the sponsors and donors who play such a vital role in our work of reaching out to vulnerable children and communities. Abaana Ministries Uganda is a local registered non–profit organisation that plays a role alongside the government and other development agencies in addressing poverty–related issues, primarily through promoting access to education and supporting street–connected children. Abaana (meaning ‘children’ in Luganda) emphasises faith–based, holistic care for each child within the context of the child’s family and community. Abaana Uganda’s head office is in Kito, Wakiso District, with projects in eight districts, and partners with many other agencies and government offices in its interventions.
Legal Information
· Abaana Ministries is a registered NGO – FORR79492485NB
· Permit number (issued 23rd July 2019, valid for five years) – FORP74092485NB
· Company limited by guarantee number 98523
Latest News
Happy new year to everyone who is interested in Abaana’s work in Uganda. We thank God for a new year and new opportunities to serve God through supporting vulnerable children in Eastern, Central and Northern Uganda. All sponsored children are currently on the long holiday that all Ugandan students are experiencing and will return to school on 4th February 2023. Abaana staff are busy doing plans and budgets for 2023, as well as closing off reporting requirements from 2022. Some updates on recent stories and activities can be found below. Thank you once again for your support.
Christmas gifts
At the end of last year, the Abaana team were busy putting together Christmas bundles for sponsored children. Each received beans, rice, sweets, a cap or ball, and toothpaste and a toothbrush as a gift. Children and parents alike were very grateful for the package, especially acknowledging the food that was of great help to see them through the long holiday season. One sponsored child, Sarah, was very happy when she received her Christmas package, saying, “I thank Abaana for the gifts. Since my father died, I did not expect to be joyful this Christmas. Thank you Abaana for the food stuffs and the ball for me to play with. I feel that although my father died, I have someone that cares for me. Thank you my sponsor for the love and care. Thank you for making our Christmas special.” New Life Choir and New Life Homes boys were also visited towards the end of the year so that staff could engage with their parents and encourage them to keep supporting their children in their education.
Doctor Isaac
Isaac has been sponsored for many years and has had an amazing opportunity to study medicine at Mbarara university. He is entering his 5th and final year and is progressing very well, though the course has focused so much on theory rather than practical training. As such, he was fortunate to do a placement recently at Pallisa General Hospital, in his home town, which pleased him greatly as he was able to help people in his own community. Although there were some challenges in the placement which involved a lot of hard work, Isaac is very positive about this internship: “The best experience I have when we do a successful surgery like one of recent done of a mum giving birth. This was very successful because the child and the mum came out fine and were later discharged. I am happy that am actively involved in the things we weren’t able to actively do while in the teaching hospital. I feel so privileged, and I thank God for this far he has brought me. Big thank you to my sponsor.”
New year, new house
One part of Abaana’s work is to process individual gifts which are sent to sponsored children. One such gift towards the end of last year was to build a new house for two children, one of whom was Beatrice, seen in the photographs. This is an amazing blessing to a family for whom a simple, poor living shelter seems inevitable. Beatrice could not get over her excitement that she would get to spend Christmas in such as strong, safe structure.
New Life Homes
The New Life Homes received a well–needed coat of paint during the long holidays, being the perfect time as many boys were able to go back home for a visit with family members. These visits are very helpful in building rapport with relatives and helping boys prepare for community life once again. Although family reunification is not easy, in general most boys who had at one time run away from home see the value of staying with parents once again; as one boy Jovan notes, “I want to thank God who brought me to NLH from the street to study and am very grateful to God that I completed primary seven. I’m thankful to God that am going to have a brighter future. Am worried that my relationship with my mother is on and off I pray that we shall develop a good relationship as I start a new stage in my education in secondary. My hope for the future is that I will be able to complete my education up to university and become a pilot I really dream to fly a plane one day. If not that I want to become a social worker. I want to thank God who brought me to NLH from the street to study and am very grateful to God that I completed primary seven. I’m thankful to God that am going to have a brighter future. Am worried that my relationship with my mother is on and off I pray that we shall develop a good relationship as I start a new stage in my education in secondary. My hope for the future is that I will be able to complete my education up to university and become a pilot I really dream to fly a plane one day. If not that I want to become a social worker. Am so grateful to my sponsors for paying my school fees, taking care of me while at NLH and assisting me to connect back to my family. And my prayer is that they will continue to support me to become an important person in the future and for this I promise them I will not fail them am going to continue to work hard.”
Summary of projects / locations of work
Abaana Uganda currently runs the following projects:
New Life Homes – New Life Homes is a licenced temporary children’s home in Uganda where street–connected children can receive Christian care and counsel, as well as have their physical needs, such as food and clothing, met. Boys are reconciled to their families as soon as possible, and the ultimate aim is that each boy would have a safe and healthy long–term home situation. Each boy that is registered receives ongoing sponsorship support in their Primary, Secondary and tertiary education.
Sponsorship – Abaana provides sponsorship to over 1,900 children from pre–primary to tertiary level who would otherwise be unable to attend or complete school. Fees are provided, as well as the provision of basics such as uniforms and scholastic materials. Special projects such as the distribution of sanitary pads and Christian teaching, including access to a Scripture Union/Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) camp, are part of interventions so that each sponsored child is helped holistically. Abaana staff regularly visit the schools to ensure that the children are getting relevant support and help with special needs, such as medical cases, where possible.
Education and School Support – Additional to sponsorship, Abaana provides support through partnerships in 16 different primary schools in various districts – Busia, Amuru, Mukono, Kampala, Mayuge, Kayunga, Ngora, and Pallisa. Abaana does this primarily by building classrooms and other buildings so that the infrastructure is in place for each school to effectively provide education in the community. Abaana also builds capacity in the schools to improve standards by training school leadership, providing resources such as textbooks and monitoring the school in various areas.
Teams – Abaana Uganda provides opportunities for people to come on short–term teams to Uganda to engage in activities related to Abaana’s work with vulnerable children. Please refer to the main Abaana UK website pages if you are based outside of Uganda and interested in joining the work on such a team – you are most welcome.
Partnerships – Abaana also works with other organisations in a variety of ways, mainly through street children outreach activities and also being a conduit for support for other projects. Through this, Abaana supports many more vulnerable children that are part of other agencies and is always interested in establishing new partnerships with like–minded organisations to share resources and network more effectively. Abaana is a member of CRANE (Children at Risk Action Network) and the national NGO forum, as well as registered with each district in which it operates.
Choir – Abaana has sent two children’s choirs to UK and Ireland, in 2017 and[GO1] 2019, with plans to send a third in 2022. The 4–month tours showcase the work Abaana does in low–income communities and give an opportunity for current and potential sponsors to connect with Uganda through song, dance and testimony.
Guesthouse
Abaana Ministries Uganda has a guesthouse used primarily by visiting teams and volunteers but is open for anyone who would like a quiet, homely, peaceful place to stay with delicious continental and local dishes. We particularly welcome other organisations or companies who would like to run conferences or workshops in a serene environment, with a meeting room, sheltered veranda, and a large garden available for various group activities. Please contact us at guesthouse@abaana.org.ug or 0773–748819 for more information.
Our Physical Address – Abaana Ministries Uganda is based in Kito village, Kira Town Council. From Kira town council, take the tarmac road at Kira Primary School (there are many signposts, including one for Abaana Guesthouse and Office) and continue for around 1.5 kilometres. At the first (small) crossroads, at a large signpost for Abaana Guesthouse and Office, take a right (the road is called Kagimu Close). Take the next right, and the Abaana office gate is straight ahead.
Phone and email contacts
Landline: 0393–266076
Whatsapp/phone (also mobile money): 0773 748038
Email: admin@abaana.org.ug or office@abaana.org.ug
Abaana relies on donations to serve vulnerable children in Uganda. Should you be interested in supporting our work, please contact us for banking details or to discuss how we could partner together.
List of Directors
Abaana Ministries Uganda has nine company members/directors: Mr Stephen Kaheru (Chairperson); Mr Scott Baxter (the Abaana founder); Mrs Bibian Muganguzi (Secretary); Mr Sam Tukei; Mr Wilfred Wabwire; Mr Julius Ananura; Mr Ambrose Hans Ahanga; Mr John Nsamba and Mr Wilberforce Ssempijja. The Directors provide direction, accountability and oversight of the operations of Abaana Ministries Uganda.
Disclaimer related to Abaana Ministries’ sponsorship scheme
Abaana Ministries Limited is a registered company limited by guarantee and NGO in Uganda. Our mission is to work with communities to address the holistic needs of vulnerable children, particularly in education. It has come to our notice that some individuals are claiming that sponsorship is available for people who pay money to a certain mobile money number. This is categorically untrue. Abaana’s sponsorship scheme is attached to identified primary schools with which Abaana partners and there is a system of identifying needy children within those communities. Moreover, NO MONEY is required in this process. Abaana Ministries will never ask people to pay money to secure sponsorship and anyone involved in this act is acting fraudulently and completely outside of Abaana Ministries’ authority. Anyone who pays money to access a service offered from Abaana Ministries does so entirely at their own risk.