James Zungu was living on the street. Now a top student and athelete.
Age 13-years-old
School St. John Bosco Katende Primary School
Class Primary 4 (4th grade)
Village Odepai, Pallisa District
Family situation My father and mother died. I had no permanent home because none of my relatives loved me or let me stay with them.
I want to be a business man.
Ambition After becoming successful, I will help build homes for children who are homeless.
Hobbies Dancing, playing soccer, watching movies, and making friends
My story
“My Father, Patrick, and my Mother, Edinansi, died from HIV/AIDS. They left me and my younger sister in the care of our uncle Stephen Muwereza, who happens not to be a biological uncle but was a close friend to our father. However we were neglected at our uncle’s house. We slept on the floor. We hardly had clothes. We did not always eat. He yelled at me all the time, called me names, threw me out of the house. I would sleep at my friend’s houses or even on the street.
Our future at the local school was not guaranteed, because our uncle always threatened to stop buying books for us. My sister dropped out of school. I went when I could but missed many days and fell behind.
I never had any option but to accept the conditions in which I lived until last year when Mummy Monica of L.E.A.D Uganda visited our village. She was directed to our house by the village chairman who witnessed the kind of life we led. She talked to my teachers and interviewed me. I kept praying that I would be accepted and be able to be in a better place.
In August this year I was thrilled. Mummy came back with Uncle Stephen Shames. They talked to me and even bought me a mattresses. (I had been sleeping on a dirt floor). For the first time, I saw someone cared. I was brought to Kampala, taken for interviews at school. I go to St. John Bosco Katende Primary School, which is a top school. I am happy now.
I hope to become a business man. I also want to become a president of a company in the future. After becoming successful, I will help build homes for children that are homeless.”
