Uganda's Nuns: Unseen Caregivers Face Aging Crisis

In Nkokonjeru, Uganda, retired nuns within the Little Sisters of St. Francis are facing a critical lack of resources as they age. These women, who dedicated their lives to service as nurses, teachers, and social workers, often lack basic necessities like adult diapers, wheelchairs, and warm blankets in their twilight years. The situation is exacerbated by the underfunding of African religious orders compared to their counterparts in Europe and America.

A new pilot program, initiated in September 2025 through the African Palliative Care Association, is striving to bridge this gap. This initiative aims to provide comprehensive end-of-life care, encompassing medical assistance, material support, and crucial psychological interventions for the aging nuns. Researchers, led by Eve Namisango, are currently assessing the needs of around 50 retired sisters, predominantly from Uganda, with the goal of extending this vital palliative care across Uganda by 2027 and subsequently across the African continent.

This program recognizes the profound contributions of these nuns and advocates for their right to dignified, person-centered care. The initiative is driven by individuals like Sister Jane Frances Nakafeero and Jean Callahan, who were moved by the sisters' plight. With an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 nuns in Africa potentially needing end-of-life care, the project seeks to raise approximately $135,000 to ensure its full realization and provide essential support and training for caregivers.