[Africa News] In Kanungu district, western Uganda, a remarkable community of grandmothers is changing lives by stepping in as caregivers for children orphaned by HIV and poverty.
Through the Nyaka Grandmothers Program, over 20,000 grandmothers have been empowered to nurture and raise more than 80,000 orphaned and vulnerable children, offering them a brighter future.
Founded two decades ago by Twesigye Jackson Kaguri, the program began as a grassroots effort to ensure children could attend school. Kaguri recalls visiting households near the first Nyaka Primary School, asking women to provide homes for children during the school week. The results were transformative, with increased school attendance and participation. 
However, Kaguri and his team soon recognized the need to support the women behind this success. “We decided to evolve the program and include benefits for these women who we call Nyaka Grandmothers,” he explained.
From Loss to Leadership
Among these grandmothers is 60-year-old Kyarikunda Georgina, whose husband passed away in 2005. Instead of living in isolation after her only child moved away, Kyarikunda chose to care for eight children in need of a home. She has since become a pillar of her community, inspiring others through her dedication.
“Giving and supporting children is not because you are rich or have a lot of money. There are those who have wealth but do not help. From my example, others are now stepping up to assist children,” Kyarikunda said.
Her influence has extended to other grandmothers in the area, encouraging them to embrace similar roles. “Many have learned from me because of the heart I have for children who are not mine,” she added.
A New Vision of Home
For the children under the care of these grandmothers, life is profoundly different. Research indicates that over 80 million African children lack access to healthy shelter, yet under the grandmothers’ wings, love and stability prevail.
Fifteen-year-old Amanya Jordan, one of Kyarikunda’s charges, shared how his perspective on family has evolved. “It is not about the traditional mother, father, and children setup. What matters is love and safety. I feel good living with my grandmother because she provides what we need. When I grow up, I want to be a doctor.”
Similarly, young Asiimwe Prima is optimistic about her future. “I thank my grandmother because everything we have asked for she has provided. She has paid school fees, and I was promoted to primary five. When I grow up, I want to be a teacher,” she said.
A Holistic Approach to Rebuilding Lives
The Nyaka Grandmothers Program goes beyond caregiving, offering education opportunities and economic empowerment while fostering community resilience.
According to Denesi Niwarinda, the program’s coordinator, recruitment prioritizes grandmothers with strong social values who can serve as role models. “We don’t encourage those who smoke, take alcohol, or have poor habits,” Niwarinda emphasized.
Through regular meetings, the grandmothers share experiences and exchange business ideas, creating a supportive network. Many of them have suffered personal losses, often losing their own children to HIV, yet they channel their strength into raising the next generation.
As the program expands to other districts, these grandmothers are rewriting narratives for themselves and the children they nurture. They are not merely caregivers—they are heroes.
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