Mbale mourns 'mother of street children'

Christine Martha Kamiti dubbed the "mother of street children" in Mbale is no more.

Kamiti, the executive director of the Child Restoration Outreach (CRO) a local NGO that assists children on the streets in Mbale succumbed to respiratory failure at Mount Elgon hospital in Mbale.

The organisation is based in Mbale with branches in Jinja, Masaka and Lira.

Since its inception CRO has assisted over 9,000 children to get off the streets and to be reintegrated in their extended families.

Kamiti joined CRO  in 1992 as a social worker and later rose through the ranks to the top most position which she has held for over a decade.

Kamiti is remembered for her enduring passion for God, kindness and  generosity.

Despite not bearing a child of her own, the deceased was locally recognised as the mother of street children due to her enduring affection and tenderness towards vulnerable children and her direct involvement in their rehabilitation.

"For sure Christine has left us with a debt of love, and its a challenge," noted one of her UK based friends in a condolence message read by Rev. Dr. Stephen Mungoma during the requiem mass at deliverance church, where the deceased served as a deacon and a member on various church committees.

Church leaders described her as a devoted Christian, mentor, peace maker, with a big heart towards people, adding that her death has left an irreplaceable gap in the church fellowship.

"Her trademark smile will always remain  vivid in my mind" noted Wamutu Sam, an elder in the church.

Kamiti was born in 1958 to Christopher Jabin Gizamba and Tolphine Kanyerere in Sironko district.

Kamiti's remains were laid to rest in her ancestral home in Pato village, Buwalasi Subcounty, Sironko district.

Hundreds of mourners flocked her village to witness the sendoff.