Rebuilding hope and healing to the most vulnerable⏤ Watoto Church raises UGX56.5 bn to care for its 3,336 children What started in 1984 as a church mission by Pastor Gary Skinner and his wife Marilyn, has since evolved into a multifaceted fountain of not only religious nourishment, ministering to over 30,000 people in Uganda and Juba weekly, but also a source of love, care, education, health and even entrepreneurship to thousands of children and women in the two countries.

Watoto, probably one of Uganda’s most trusted and respected non-profit organisations, in 2022 turned over UGX56.5 billion.

The Watoto earned UGX53.2 billion from its mainstream activities – a 1% increase from   UGX52.9 billion in 2021. Of this, UGX50.2 billion were donations from all over the world. 

It also earned UGX3.3 billion⏤ 18% more than the UGX2.8 billion in 2021, as net finance income- from its fixed income and other investments.

Even though Watoto reduced its admin expenses by 15%, from UGX5.4 billion to UGX4.6 billion, an increase in operating expenses⏤operating expenses increased by 9% from UGX51.3 billion to UGX55.7 billion, saw the net deficit nearly grow by more than 4 times from UGX1 billion in 2021 to UGX3.8 billion in 2022.

In 2022 the bulk of the costs went to employee benefits (UGX15.9 billion); education (UGX15.3 billion); homes and mothers (UGX9.7 billion); babies’ homes (UGX4.4 billion), running the farms (UGX3.5 billion) as well as clinical and medical expenses (UGX3.1 billion).

Originally known as Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC)- a church founded by Pastor Gary Skinner and his wife Marilyn, it changed its name in 2009 during its 25th anniversary. Watoto is a Kiswahili word meaning children.

Watoto Church was founded in 1984 but did not take in its first orphan until 1994 at the height of the HIV/AIDS scourge. The famous Watoto Children’s Choir was also birthed in the same year.  

The first home was built at a temporary location—Olive Gardens, Kampala in 1995. 

The first Watoto village was built and named Buloba. The first home was built in the second Watoto village, named Bbira. Another home was built in 2003 in the third Watoto village, named Suubi.

In 2007, Baby Watoto was started to meet the specialised needs of children rescued between the ages 0-2 years old.

In 2008, the Church launched Living Hope, which has since been rebranded to Watoto Neighbourhood, to equip vulnerable women to care for themselves and their families.

In 2009, Project Gulu was started in response to the 25-year civil war caused by the insurgence of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The first home was built in the fourth Watoto village, named Laminadera.

Baby Watoto Gulu was also built.

In 2010, to raise awareness about the child soldier crisis in northern Uganda, the church created a production called “Restore Tour: Child Soldier No More”, sharing the testimonies of children who were rescued.

Baby Watoto Suubi was also built in the same year. 

In 2012, the church spread its wings to South Sudan, launching Watoto Church in Juba, South Sudan.

In Uganda, the Keep a Girl in School initiative in Gulu was also launched. 

In 2018, Watoto Neighbourhood and Keep a Girl in School were also launched in Juba, South Sudan.

Today, Watoto has grown to be one of the largest and most impactful non-profits in Uganda. 

In February this year, Gary & Marilyn retired, passing on the mantle of leadership to Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo and his wife Vernita.

Watoto Child Care Ministries, the subsidiary of the Church that builds and runs its villages, schools, churches, medical centres, and baby homes was formed in 1994 and has been run by Jacqueline Kobusingye Opondo, as Executive Director, since January 2018. It also runs the vocational training centres as well as the farms. There are 4 Watoto farms- in Buloba, Suubi, Lubbe and Bobi in Northern Uganda.

Watoto’s assets as of the end of 2022 stood at UGX86.4 billion⏤ mainly land and buildings. 

Bringing hope and healing to the most vulnerable

Across its three villages— Bbira, Laminadera, and Suubi, Watoto in the year 2022 was raising and supporting 3,336 children in a family setting, with food, clothes, medical care, and an education. 

1,504 women were also equipped with adult literacy classes, vocational skills, business training, and job opportunities. 

Baby Watoto,  had under its care 167 babies, including 59 rescued in 2022. In total Watoto has rescued and put under its care over 1,590 babies.  Rescued babies who are first put into the babies’ homes are subsequently transferred to a family in one of the villages when they are of age.  In 2022 56 children and toddlers were transited to the villages. In 2022, 388 families were living in homes throughout the various Watoto villages.

In the year 2022, 2,751 students were in school, including over 500 pursuing tertiary education. 

Watoto medical centres provided healthcare to over 8,873 people⏤ both Watoto children and neighbouring communities.  

Watoto Farms which is an integral part of the non-profit’s sustainability fed nearly 3,700 children and mothers with fresh produce eggs and milk. The farms also provide jobs for communities as well as grounds for vocational skills training and internship opportunities. Surplus produce is sold on the market for extra revenue. Sales revenue from the farms in 2022 was UGX461 million in 2022. 

During the year, the Watoto Neighbourhood initiative gave 453 women start-up capital to start small businesses. In total over 6,650 vulnerable women have received support from the initiative.