Orphan care: the role of the extended family in northern Uganda

Abstract

This paper examines the traditional role of the extended family in orphan care in northern Uganda. The extended family provides much support in looking after orphans, but has been overburdened by the AIDS epidemic with the result that some care is being provided by the older orphans, who are too young for the responsibility. The main problems of orphans are lack of money, inadequate parental care and some mistreatment by the caregivers.