A 34-year-old mother of 11 in Soroti District is battling hunger, poverty and abandonment as she struggles to provide for her children, including three-month-old triplets, with little support from family members or the fathers of her children.
Joyce Aiso, a resident of Oregea Parish in Asuret Sub-county, says each day begins with uncertainty about how she will feed her family.
Living in a small makeshift house built on a tiny piece of land she purchased, Aiso says the burden of caring for her children alone has become overwhelming.
“I have 11 children and no one to help me. My brothers sold all our family land, leaving me with nowhere to stay. I had to force my 12-year-old daughter into marriage so I could get money to buy this small piece of land at the trading centre,” she said.
Aiso says her situation worsened after she recently gave birth to quadruplets. One of the babies died shortly after birth due to complications, leaving her to care for three infants alongside her other children.
According to Aiso, the man she says fathered the children abandoned her after learning of the pregnancy.
“The man who impregnated me is no longer interested. Whenever I call him, he tells me to look for NGOs to buy milk for the babies. I have no soap, no food and no support. These babies have not even had soap for the last two weeks. My other children are not studying because I cannot afford books or food. I survive by digging in people’s gardens,” she said.
Neighbours describe her situation as desperate and worsening.
Emmanuel Osaka, a relative and resident of Andala Village, said many community members have witnessed her struggle for years.
“She is really desperate. She has 11 children without proper support from any father. The man who fathered the triplets completely distanced himself from her after she became pregnant,” Osaka said.
He added that Aiso often seeks help from the fathers of her children but rarely receives meaningful support.
“She asks for food for the children and they redirect her elsewhere. Sometimes she asks relatives for as little as Shs500 because her children are sleeping hungry. It is heartbreaking,” he said.
Local leaders say efforts to mobilise support have yielded limited results.
LC1 Chairperson Igwera Nelson said the village has reached out to churches and well-wishers, but assistance has remained insufficient.
“She comes from a poor background. Her parents died when she was still young. She delivered four babies and one died due to complications. She has nobody to assist her and even the village is struggling to help,” Nelson said.
Asuret Sub-county Chairperson Thomas Alemu described Aiso as one of the most vulnerable residents in the area.
“This young woman is not married and has 11 children. Sometimes she completely fails to provide lunch or supper for them. Most of the men who get involved with her disappear after she becomes pregnant,” Alemu said.
He said he has personally assisted her on several occasions with food and other basic necessities but noted that the family's needs exceed what local leaders can provide.
“I am appealing to government agencies, leaders and all good Samaritans to intervene. The situation is becoming unbearable. These babies require milk every day but she cannot afford it,” Alemu said.
The sub-county chairperson further alleged that Aiso’s vulnerability stems from longstanding family challenges after relatives reportedly sold family land and left her without a permanent place to settle.
“She only owns a very tiny piece of land which is not even a standard plot. Her brothers and sisters sold the family land and disappeared, leaving her with nowhere to settle permanently,” he said.
Aiso’s story highlights the challenges faced by many vulnerable women in rural communities, where poverty, limited social protection systems and lack of parental support continue to affect the welfare of children and families.
As she cares for her children in Andala Village, Aiso says her greatest hope is that support will come before conditions worsen further.
“I only pray that God touches someone’s heart to help my children survive,” she said.
