Uganda: 40 children are born with HIV each day and one in two is malnourished

Summary: With Ugandan elections on February 23 just weeks away, Save the Children is calling on the candidates to pledge support for its Children’s Manifesto and address the bleak situation faced by the nation’s children.

[LONDON, 31 January 2006] - With Ugandan elections on February 23 just weeks away, Save the Children is calling on the candidates to pledge support for its Children’s Manifesto and address the bleak situation faced by the nation’s children.

Save the Children in Uganda (SCiU) is deeply concerned that in Uganda:

• 2 million Ugandan children under the age of 6 live below the poverty line;
• Almost 2 million children die each year before reaching their first birthday;
• The conflict with the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) has led to the displacement of 2 million people, most of whom live in appalling conditions in IDP camps;
• Up to 40,000 children leave their camps every evening to ‘commute’ to the relative safety of town centres;
• 2.5 million children are engaged in some of the worst forms of labour;
• 40 children are born each day with HIV, the virus that causes AIDs;
• Half of the children are malnourished;
• Less than half of children aged between 6-14 complete primary school.

David Wright, Director, Save the Children in Uganda, said: "Forty four years on from independence, while the nation's income has grown, the situation of the nation's children remains bleak. With the Children's Manifesto we are spelling out what the political parties must do to show they are really committed to supporting and protecting children, not least providing adequate funds for children's services. Political parties must meet the responsibilities toward tomorrow's citizens as well as those who vote today. That's why we are calling on the election candidates to get behind our manifesto and put children first in the future."

Through the Manifesto, produced by the Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children (UPFC) with the support of Save the Children in Uganda, Ugandan children are calling on the future government to:

• Fight HIV/AIDS and support orphaned children
• combat child abuse and neglect in all forms, including sexual abuse
• Fight Child Poverty
• Increase expenditure on education to 5% of GDP
• Make universal primary education (UPE) completely free and compulsory
• End the war in Northern Uganda and implement a well-resourced recovery programme
• Represent the views and interests of children in policy decisions
• Outlaw child labour and child exploitation in all its forms
• Eradicate the phenomenon of child soldiers

About Save the Children:

Established in 1919 in the UK, Save the Children UK has existed in Uganda since 1959. In 1990, Save the Children Norway began programme operations, while Save the Children Denmark began in 1994.

In Uganda, Save the Children works with children affected by Armed Conflict and Disaster, children affected by HIV/AIDs, and provides access to education and health services. Other focuses include supporting children who come into contact conflict with the law, improving food security and working to prevent early pregnancy. Places where we work include Gulu, Kasese, Bundibugyo, Kumi, Karamoja and Iganga.

The 21st Century brought new demands and a re-branding of identity of the Save the Children. Today, Save the Children, now 85 years old, maintains this identity with 28 Save the Children organisations operating in 111 countries worldwide.

Save the Children in Uganda is a consolidation of programmes of Save the Children Norway, Save the Children UK, and Save the Children Denmark.

The Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children is a non-partisan group, initiated during the 7th Uganda’s Parliament and consisting of more than 60 MPs from all political parties. Despite the fact that their membership and party affiliations differ, the forum shares the same belief - a strong conviction that MPs as the elected representatives of the people are obliged to protect the interest of not only those who vote them to power, but those of the voiceless children who represent 56% of their constituents. Members of the forum have a responsibility to work together as MPs to enhance children’s rights by rising above petty quarrels and simple political party tactics.