Welcome to the Widows and Orphans Support Organization!

Widows and Orphans Support Organization Uganda (WOSO), is a registered community based non-governmental organization located in Katovu town, Lwengo District, in southwestern Uganda. WOSO was established in October of 2012 by committed young leaders from Lwengo District to meet the needs of the most critically vulnerable children and their families in their community. Lwengo district is in the dry corridor of Uganda and suffers long droughts, as well as being a region very hard hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Many widows and vulnerable children reside in this region. Although education is highly valued throughout Uganda, only 14% of children are enrolled in primary and secondary school throughout the country, with children from rural regions and girls making up the largest percentage of children out of school. In Lwengo district, only 2% of children complet all levels of secondary school (junior and senior high school).

Since its founding, WOSO has responded to community needs. Currently WOSO has four projects to assist in providing education, health. and income-generating opportunities to residents of this region.

  1. A primary school sponsorship program was established in January, 2013 to assist critically vulnerable children to receive a primary school education. Currently, 67 children are sponsored through this program.

  2. A micro-credit program was established in 2014 to help women start small businesses so that they can support their families. Currently 83 women are working together in 12 supportive groups

  3. A secondary school, which was requested by community members, was constructed and opened in 2015. This school provides access to a quality secondary education which was previously unavailable to community members since the nearest secondary school was over 8 miles away. Today 334 students are enrolled in the school.

  4. WOSO also incorporates community health projects in all of its programs, such as the healthy family initiative, HIV/AIDS testing, community cleanup days, and health education classes in the primary and secondary school programs.