Kampala — THE youth state minister, Jessica Alupo, has said HIV/AIDS and the high level of poverty have increased the number of orphans and other vulnerable children in Uganda.

"HIV/AIDS and poverty are the two leading drivers of vulnerability and this presents a real development challenge to the Government," Alupo said.

The minister was addressing participants from western Uganda in a one-day workshop organised by gender, labour and social affairs ministry at Leisuex Centre in Fort Portal town, on Tuesday. She explained that HIV/AIDS had led to about 2.21 million orphans and 7.5 million vulnerable children.

Alupo noted that the scourge had also increased child headed families, street children, school dropouts, early marriages among girls and vulnerability to HIV infection. She said 31% of the population was poor and over 10% lived in abject poverty.

"Children constitute the biggest percentage of the extremely poor and are more vulnerable than adults. They are at a greater risk of deprivation, which jeopardises their survival and development," Alupo added.

The Kabarole chief administrative officer, Juma Nyende, said the district was overwhelmed with the influx of orphans and vulnerable children. He attributed the increase to civil wars, ethnic wrangles, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

Nyende said the increase of vulnerable children had affected service providers and local governments, whose limited resources have been overstretched by the increasing demands.

He explained that despite the intervention of external agencies like Unicef, World Vision and Save the Children, the impact on the ground was too small.

"Although the external agencies render social, psychological, education and health services to the vulnerable groups, such support has remained unnoticed at the grassroots due to the overwhelming demands. They have only managed to reach out to a small portion," Nyende said.

The workshop attracted district officials from across the region.