By KT Reporter
Two elderly grandparents in Moroto district are struggling to care for their 2-year-old disabled grandchild after the baby’s mother abandoned her two months ago, leaving them without support. The couple, Nabur Amaise, 60, and Loitameri Nangomo, 81, residents of Natumkasikou village in Rupa sub-county, say they are overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising the child amidst extreme poverty and poor health.
Amaise explains that their daughter, 20-year-old Lopeyok Angolore, left the baby in their care under the pretense of going to sell cassava flour in a nearby trading centre but never returned.
“It’s now two months since she disappeared, and we have no idea about her whereabouts,” Amaise said, adding that the situation has rendered them completely vulnerable. She noted that the child only feeds on porridge and tea, but they cannot even afford sugar. “We do not have money to buy food for ourselves, yet we must now struggle with this child who also has no clothing, medical care, or bedding,” she said.
Amaise revealed that Angolore has three other children who were handed over to their respective fathers, leaving the disabled baby entirely in the hands of her aging parents. The desperate couple is appealing to well-wishers to come to their rescue. “We are helpless, and this child has been abandoned in our hands. We need support for her survival,” Amaise pleaded.
Concerned villagers share the same frustration. Moses Lokeris, a resident of Natumkasikou, described the mother’s actions as cruel. He said the baby is visibly malnourished and depends on little help from neighbors since the grandparents cannot provide for her needs.
“It is disgusting for a mother to leave such a vulnerable child with elderly people who cannot even feed themselves,” Lokeris said. He added that the ongoing cold weather poses more danger to the child’s health since there are no sweaters or sheets for warmth. Lokeris stressed that reports have been made to local authorities, but no support has been extended so far. He appealed to well-wishers to intervene urgently with food, clothes, and medical care, as well as to help trace the missing mother. Authorities in Moroto district admit they are grappling with a rising trend of children being abandoned by their families. Many children aged between 5 and 15 are ending up on the streets, exposing them to exploitation, drug abuse, and school dropout. Officials blame the crisis on high poverty levels, domestic violence, and ignorance in communities.
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