We were blessed to be introduced to this wonderful ministry in 2005. Our church hosted the founder of the ministry, Dongo. We were asked to serve as his “transportation” for the few days he was in Sebring, FL. What a blessing to meet such an inspirational man. He and his wife started Buyamba to help orphans and so many children whose lives were upended by poverty, war and the disease of AIDS.

Buyamba, when translated in English, simply means “HELP”.

After hearing his story, we quickly looked over all the pictures on a table and selected on of the saddest child we’d seen. The fact that her name, Deborah, helped me say, YES, we need to help her! Below are just a few of the pictures of her growth and transition to a lovely young woman who is now a college graduate and is helping others in Uganda!

What a blessing to write letters back and forth, to send gifts, to pray for and encourage her. She was enrolled in school with our initial support, which continued on until she graduated from college! Her testimony is powerful – as are nearly every sponsored child.

To see a recent news letter that shares inspiring updates and hope for these precious children, click here.

As soon as Deborah graduated from college we asked to sponsor another child in 2020. It is hard to believe she is now in High School. Time sure flies as we pray for the success of these children. Meet Joy Patience, started in Nursery School up to entering High School – over 5 years:

Buyamba was the vision of a husband and wife, Pastor Bethuel and Florence Dongo to care for orphans. Buyamba, a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, was founded in the U.S. in 1999, to support the Dongos’ efforts with Buyamba Orphan Outreach in Uganda. Buyamba supported them through a child sponsorship program and provision of needed resources. As a result, God Cares Nursery and Primary School opened in 2002 with 97 children, in the basement of the church where the Dongo family continues to serve.  Currently, Buyamba financially supports the education and care of over 1800 children through our sponsorship programs.

Background:  Since the late Pastor Bethuel Dongo and his wife Florence were in ministry from a young age, they made a decision to open their hearts to whatever God would have them do to help Uganda, and they knew caring for orphans would be part of that plan. Although they were very poor and had the challenges of growing a church and raising their own five biological kids, they were determined to tend to the needs of the fatherless.

The “collection” of children actually came to be thanks to the Dongo children who had been given the heart of God early in their attempts to help orphaned and abandoned children. Florence recounts that it was not unusual for one of her own kids to arrive home with a little friend who had no parents and needed help. The little food they had for themselves would now be shared with another. Whether it was Worship, Ezra, Glory or Thanks, (their children) the orphaned child would have been promised a home and a mom and dad who would take care of them. Each situation was dire, and by the end, 22 orphans would be calling them mom and dad for they had certainly found a home in the Dongo household. These were children left behind and in desperate situations that are now married or self-sustaining in various careers and some with children of their own. 

After seeing such a great need within their beloved country, God put it on Pastor Bethuel and Florence Dongos’ hearts to reach out to His people, people with Aids (HIV), orphans, and children who were abandoned, destitute and poverty stricken. Recognizing thousands of children lacked love, education, and simple basic needs, Bethuel and Florence started Buyamba Orphan Outreach to provide love, care and, assistance to orphans and needy children whose parents were too sick or destitute to care for them.

Once the Dongos identified these children and met their critical needs, education was next. They knew that the only way they could help Uganda would be by educating its children. Due to the lack of free public education in Uganda, only 1 in 6 children are privileged enough to attend school. The Dongos had the vision to start a school to give these children the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and become contributing members of society. They began to share their vision to educate and support these children with as many people as they encountered. In 1999, the first Buyamba orphan received sponsorship towards his education. The following year, the second child was sponsored, and the Dongos’ dream became a reality.

Buyamba recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. We were so excited to look back and remember how meager they started. Every year we saw their vision grow to become more self sufficient with growing their own food and owning livestock.

Pastor Dongo held tightly to his vision to build a five story building that would be a home to orphans while serving as a school. The first five story building was completed in 2005 by generous donors. The rooms of the school quickly filled up and it has been bursting at the seams ever since. Then the land was purchased for the high school (about an hour away) and the construction began on another five-story building, completed in 2011, that now houses God Cares High School students and educates over 800 children. With the help of a few strategic churches and many individual donors, the school was dedicated to the Lord in 2016.

“Our Vision is to empower the orphaned and need children of Uganda to impact their nation for Christ.”

“Our Mission is to offer love, hope and a future through education and discipleship, one child at a time.”

“Learn to do good….seek justice….defend the orphan and the widow.” Isaiah 1:17

The current population at God Cares School (GCS)in nursery primary school is 830; High School is 875, and Graduates are 72. The students in Universities or Trade Schools is 112, and those graduates are 38. Currently, 1,927 students served! There is a need for 250 more sponsorships needed, children identified and eligible to attend GCS.

Please pray about sponsoring a child. They are helping Uganda … one child at a time!

You can write for more information to info@ugandabuyamba.com or visit their website www.ugandabuyamba.com. There are multiple opportunities to provide support. Here is more inspiration: