By David Adoke (Country Director), Child’s i Foundation
Every year on May 15, the world observes the International Day of Families, a UN-designated occasion to honor the essential role of families in society. This year’s theme, “Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development,” highlights how investing in families is central to achieving global development goals.
As we celebrate family bonds and well-being, we reflect on Uganda’s efforts to put families at the heart of national development. In Uganda, strengthened family-oriented policies are protecting vulnerable children and advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on poverty, health, equality, and institutional strength.
In this blog, we explore how Uganda is reforming childcare and protection through family-centered policies, from legal reforms and national guidelines to community-level programmes and how these efforts contribute to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
We also offer a regional perspective, noting progress in Kenya and Rwanda, and Uganda’s role in inspiring reform in countries like Tanzania and Madagascar.
Uganda’s Family-First Policy Reforms
Uganda has enacted bold policy reforms to ensure every child grows up in a safe, nurturing family. Key initiatives include:
The Children Act and Amendments (Cap. 59): Uganda’s legal foundation for child protection was strengthened in 2016 to prioritise family.
The amendments mandate government ministries to prevent family separation and provide early interventions. They also tightened regulations on inter-country adoption and emphasised that removing a child from their family must be a last resort.
Uganda National Child Policy (2020): This comprehensive, family-centered policy recognises that children’s well-being depends on the ability of families to care for them. It aims to strengthen families, reform child care, improve permanency planning, and ensure quality alternative family-based care. It replaces the outdated Orphans and Vulnerable Children framework with a broader, more inclusive vision.
National Parenting Guidelines (2018): These guidelines promote responsible parenting and affirm the government’s commitment to support families. They provide practical tools to help caregivers create nurturing home environments and prevent family breakdowns.
Together, these policies create a strong framework for development. When families are supported, children are less likely to be abandoned or placed in institutions, and more likely to thrive.
From Institutions to Families: Reforming Child Care in Uganda
Uganda is shifting from institutional care to family care, aligning with the UN Guidelines for Alternative Care of Children. Key achievements include:
Legal and Policy Changes: Amendments to the Children Act recognised foster care and emphasised domestic over inter-country adoption. The National Alternative Care Framework ( still in draft) has established district-level panels to oversee placements and ensure children are placed in families.
In some parts of the country with demonstrated approaches to family strengthening and reintegration, the government is limiting new institutions and enforcing standards to reintegrate children into families. In 2024, Tanzania sent a delegation to learn from Uganda’s success in transitioning to family care.
Scaling Up Foster and Kinship Care:
With NGO support, hundreds of foster carers have been trained and approved. Kinship care, Uganda’s most common and culturally accepted alternative, is also being strengthened.
Reintegration from Institutions:
Thousands of children have been returned to family care through case management and family tracing. This supports SDG 16.2 by reducing the risk of abuse and exploitation in institutions.
Children raised in families show better health, education, and emotional outcomes proving that care reform is not just moral—it’s smart development.
Strengthening Child Protection Structures: Family policies succeed only if implemented effectively. Uganda is building child protection systems from villages to the national level:
Community-Level Protection: Child Wellbeing Committees also in the National Child Policy of 2020, coordinate local services and identify vulnerable children. For example, in Kikuube and Kyegegwa, 280 committee members were trained to prevent abuse and refer families to services. In Tororo where Child’s i works 195 were trained and 13 Child Well being committees were established in the orphanage free district.
National Structures: The National Child Protection Working Group, Alternative Care Panels, and technical working groups guide policy implementation. The National Child Policy’s action plan invests in training social workers and supporting local committees.
Community Involvement: Inspired by Rwanda’s network of community child protection volunteers, Uganda is also mobilising para-social workers and local councils. These efforts help reduce child neglect, abuse, and violence. Strong institutions, from village committees to national panels, are key to realizing SDG 16.
Child’s i Foundation: Supporting Uganda’s Family-First Vision
Child’s i Foundation has contributed to Uganda’s reform through:
- Policy Development: Supporting the creation of alternative care guidelines and child protection frameworks.
- Capacity Building: Training hundreds of social workers and foster carers.
- Demonstration Projects: Transforming institutions into community hubsand strengthening at-risk families.
- Collaboration: Working with government, NGOs, and regional partners to scale successful models.
Our mission aligns with this year’s theme: putting families at the center of sustainable development.
A Call to Action: Invest in Families for a Sustainable Future
Uganda’s journey is still long but proves that investing in families is investing in the future. As we mark the International Day of Families 2025, we urge all stakeholders to:
- Expand funding for family-strengthening programmess.
- Fully implement family-friendly laws and policies.
- Support community-led child protection structures.
- Foster regional and international collaboration.
- Engage the public and private sector in supporting families.
Happy International Day of Families 2025. Let’s put families first.
Christopher Muwanguzi and David Adoke, on behalf of Child’s i Foundation
