The situation has placed immense pressure on the home, which was built to accommodate about 50 children but is currently housing 53.
Uganda’s oldest facility dedicated to caring for abandoned, orphaned, and abused infants and toddlers, Sanyu Babies Home, is grappling with rising numbers of abandoned children—particularly boys—leaving the facility stretched beyond its capacity and prompting urgent calls for more adoptions.
According to a social worker at the home, more boys than girls are being abandoned each month. However, most prospective adoptive parents tend to prefer girls, creating a growing imbalance that leaves many boys without families for longer periods.
The situation has placed immense pressure on the home, which was built to accommodate about 50 children but is currently housing 53. On some days, the facility receives up to 10 new children, many of them just days old, while others are as old as four years.
The concerns were shared during a visit by pupils and teachers from Savannah Schools in Makindye, who chose the home as part of their activities to mark World Health Day. The visit aimed to instill values of compassion, generosity, and social responsibility among the students.
During the visit, the school community donated essential supplies such as milk, diapers, sugar, clothes, and basic necessities to support the children and caregivers.
Head teacher Godfrey Kigongo Bwabye said the initiative was designed to teach students the importance of helping others and giving back to the community. He also expressed concern about the increasing number of abandoned children, attributing it largely to family breakdowns and unresolved conflicts among parents.
“These innocent children should not suffer because of adult disagreements,” he emphasized, urging couples to find peaceful ways to resolve their issues rather than abandoning their responsibilities.
Speaking on behalf of the students, Myra Gift Kalule praised the caregivers for their dedication and encouraged more people to support the home through donations, fostering, or adoption.
Founded in 1929 and often referred to as the “Home of Joy,” Sanyu Babies Home works to reunite children with their relatives whenever possible, while also facilitating adoption and foster care. However, the ongoing preference for adopting girls has made it increasingly difficult to find families for boys.
As the numbers continue to rise, the home is appealing to compassionate individuals and families to step forward—offering not just material support, but the chance for every child to grow up in a loving home.