A sanctuary of iman: the story of ssekanyonyi Islamic orphanage

In the green heart of Ssekanyonyi Village, Mityana District, Uganda, a small rented home echoes each morning with Qur’an recitation, children’s laughter, and the quiet determination of a community that chose compassion over despair.

This is the story of Ssekanyonyi Islamic Orphanage.

It began in 2019, when three people — Alitubeera Madina, kavuma Hassan, and Sseeubiri Faizo — looked around their village and saw what others had grown used to: children abandoned by hardship, some left by parents overwhelmed by poverty, some orphaned by HIV/AIDS, others living on the streets, some disabled, and many simply forgotten.

They decided these children would not be forgotten anymore.

Their intention was clear and rooted in Islam: to revive the religion in their community by building a generation grounded in Tawheed,Qur’an, Seerah, Hadith, alongside mathematics and sciences — so the children would grow not only as knowledgeable Muslims but as capable, responsible members of society.

They started with 20 orphans in a small rented space.

But as word spread, more children came.

And they never turned any away.

Today, 165 boys and girls call this orphanage home.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“So as for the orphan, do not oppress him.”
(Surah Ad-Duha 93:9)

This verse became their mission.

Children who had never known kindness were welcomed with love. Street children sat beside disabled children. Those abandoned sat beside those grieving. No one was labeled. No one was rejected. They were all treated with equality, dignity, and mercy.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“I and the one who cares for an orphan will be in Paradise like this,”
and he held his two fingers together. (Bukhari)

This promise is what fuels the orphanage every single day.

Beyond caring for the children, the orphanage became a light for the wider Muslim community. Families receive counseling, the community benefits from Islamic education, and many receive medical assistance. What started as a shelter slowly became a center of unity for Muslims in Ssekanyonyi.

But the challenges are many.

They still live in a rented house, where boys and girls share limited sleeping space. Clean water is far away, requiring long walks to fetch it. There is no farm yet, so food must be bought daily to feed 165 children. There is a shortage of clothes, scholastic materials, and basic necessities.

For the girls, the struggle is even more sensitive — menstrual hygiene needs are often unmet due to lack of supplies.

Yet, every day, the children still recite:

“And whoever relies upon Allah — then He is sufficient for him.”
(Surah At-Talaq 65:3)

They hold onto tawakkul.

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

“The best house among the Muslims is the house in which an orphan is treated well.” (Ibn Majah)

Ssekanyonyi Islamic Orphanage strives to be that house.

To sustain this mission, the orphanage runs a special sponsorship pen-pal program. Those who sponsor an orphan not only support their health, education, welfare, and accommodation, but also build a personal connection through letters and communication — a bond of mercy that crosses borders.

Allah reminds us:

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed that grows seven ears; in every ear is a hundred grains.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261)

This is an invitation to be part of that reward.

To help feed a child.
To provide water.
To clothe a girl with dignity.
To educate a future scholar.
To give a homeless child a place to sleep safely.

Ssekanyonyi Islamic Orphanage is more than a shelter. It is a place where broken stories are rewritten with faith, love, and hope.

And you can be part of this story.

Support this noble cause. Sponsor an orphan. Share in the reward. And may Allah make this charity a light for you on the Day when we will all stand in need of mercy.