RUBIRIZI, UGANDA – Local wild animal hunters have been urged to stop illegal hunting in protected reserves and instead take up government programs focused on poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The appeal was made by the Rubirizi District Community Development Officer (DCDO), Marklevis Mbonye, while presiding as chief guest at a humanitarian event held at the Kichwamba Orphanage Foundation in Rubirizi District.
The appeal follows the plight of a number of surviving orphans and widows who lost their parents or loved ones due to various causes, including deaths related to illegal poaching and illnesses such as HIV/AIDS.
Speaking at a function organized by Angella Stress Ministries, Mbonye highlighted the severe consequences of poaching, including arrest, death, and imprisonment, noting that such outcomes leave many families without breadwinners.
He observed that men who engage in illegal hunting in protected areas often end up dead or behind bars, leaving widows and children stranded. This, he said, directly contributes to the growing number of orphaned children in the community.
Mbonye appealed to men to abandon illegal hunting and instead take advantage of government programs such as the Parish Development Model and the Youth Livelihood Fund, which are designed to transform lives and alleviate poverty.
“Many men risk their lives in protected areas, only to end up dead or behind bars, leaving widows and children stranded and increasing the burden of orphanhood. I appeal to you to stop illegal hunting and instead embrace government programs like the Parish Development Model and the Youth Livelihood Fund aimed at transforming lives,” Mbonye said.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Kichwamba Orphanage Foundation, Edison Kyagaba, revealed that the organization was established to address the pressing need of supporting the increasing number of orphaned children in Rubirizi District.
He explained that many children in the area had lost their parents due to various causes, including poaching-related deaths and illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, which prompted the foundation to provide them with a future.
Kyagaba further noted that some of the children under their care were orphaned as a direct result of illegal hunting activities, reinforcing concerns about the far-reaching consequences of poaching on local families.
“We realized that many children in Rubirizi had lost their parents due to various causes, including poaching-related deaths and illnesses such as HIV/AIDS. We started this foundation to give them a future,” Kyagaba explained.
The director acknowledged that the foundation continues to face significant challenges, particularly limited resources to sustain operations and meet the growing needs of the children, and appealed to well-wishers and development partners for support.
Angella Stress, through her Angella Stress Ministries, delivered essential supplies to the orphanage, including clothes, posho, rice, soap, toilet paper, sanitary pads, and a monetary contribution.
Angella Stress commended the Kichwamba Orphanage Foundation for its dedication to restoring hope among vulnerable children, expressing deep appreciation for the work being done at the facility.
She pledged continued support for the organization, committing to lobby for more resources and stand with the foundation in its journey of transforming the lives of orphaned children.
“We are touched by the work being done here. These children deserve love, care, and a chance to dream. We commit to lobbying for more support and standing with the Kichwamba Orphanage Foundation in their journey of transforming lives,” Angella said.
Rubirizi District is home to several forest reserves, including Kasyoha-Kitomi, Maramagambo (a tropical rainforest within Queen Elizabeth National Park), and Kalinzu, as the district grapples with the dual challenges of environmental conservation and community welfare.
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