It is with the greatest sorrow that we write to you the following letter. After working here in Uganda for 10 months with Sam Mutabaazi and the children of Dorcas Children's Home, we have learned of a line of corrupt behavior which works directly against the full mission of the home. Both in years past and in the time we have spent here we have discovered that Sam Mutabaazi has been sexually misusing female workers and girls under his care. In his position of power, he manipulates females in this home leading them to believe their provision and livelihood depend on pleasing him. This is a gross misuse of power that even in this culture is looked down upon and thought of as morally evil, not to mention, highly illegal.
We have carefully and prayerfully worked in seeking to know if these accusations were true, and do not give our testimony lightly, understanding how destructive this information is to so many people's lives. We have nothing to gain from writing this letter to you and everything to lose for through it, we compromise the work we have done through out the year, and our plans to continue working with a home we have come to love. But, it is our moral obligation to make a stand for what is just and right, and let those who have invested so much faith and monetary support be aware of what has been taking place in secret for so many years.
We first came to know about Sam's conduct through a close friend of ours and niece to Sam. After months of a friendship, she began to confide in us about the sexual misconduct at the home pleading for us to help, or at least speak to the girls about their rights. Sharing a close friendship with Sam, and believing him to be a moral man, we struggled with this information knowing that rumors and false accusations are commonplace in Uganda. We did speak to the girls about their God-given right of choice and personal control of their body. Throughout the year, Kami read nightly through a book based on Hosea's wife, seeking to show God's redemptive love to those who have been used and mistreated, and the beauty they contain within themselves. We wanted each of the girls to know that even in a male-dominated society they still had great worth and always had a choice, especially when it came to how they would use their own bodies.
As the months went on we began to see certain things that bothered us. First, whenever Juliet, a 16 year-old who had been on the streets as a prostitute came home from boarding school, she lived in Sam's room. Sam often allows many of the children to sleep in his room and keeps his door open, so as strange as this seems, we did not think too much of it at the time. But, one day as Chris went into the room, he found Sam wearing no clothes, moving to cover himself and Juliet re-clothing herself. First, let us make it very clear that no sexual misconduct was seen, but enough of an implication was left for us to begin taking stock in the stories we had been hearing.
In the same period, our former matron asked Kami if it was normal to have to sleep with an employer to keep one's job, telling Kami this was the normal situation in Uganda. She was soon there after let go.
In the last two months, as we began to become more concerned about this situation and constantly prayed for truth, more people revealed the same information about Sam, including former volunteers on two separate occasions, former boys who had lived in the home, workers, and current children.
The following lines are the way they have come to place:
During the last holiday, when our oldest boy returned from boarding school, he confided in Kami about concerns that his girlfriend (a teacher at our primary school near his age) was being unfaithful. One day he came to Kami in tears telling her what he had found. Sam had given her a phone (a donation we had received from a church) and on the phone were messages from Sam asking her to sleep with him, confessing love and affection and wanting her to come to him. She admitted to accepting invitations to go to the Sauna with Sam. Our oldest boy was heartbroken looking to us for advice on what he should do in a situation like this.
We decided to talk to our cook and matron individually, explaining them our concerns and asking them to be honest with us about Sam's conduct with them. They both explained that “yes Daddy did tell them in their interview he would ask them from time to time to sleep with him, and had many times, but if they refused, as long as they continued to work hard, he would not fire them.” They both thought this was something not too serious, and said they refused to sleep with him regularly. We pressed them explaining it was something to be taken very seriously and asked them about his conduct with the young girls at the home (12-16 years old.) They replied that the girls just needed to know that Daddy wouldn't force them and to say no. They said, “that the problem rested in them lacking maturity to know they could say 'no'.” They also told us several of the girls had come to them upset about Daddy trying to kiss them or touch them inappropriately, and did not want to bring food into his room.
At this time we were also planning for the music tour and received emails from a former volunteer, warning us of deception in the past and refusing to support Sam because of his manipulation and many moral reasons.
On two separate occasions, the first in 2001, and the second only just over a year ago, the same sexual misconduct accusations were brought against Sam resulting in the volunteer's names being ruined in Uganda, cut sponsorship, and many of the boys leaving or being sent away from the home. We had heard stories of both, but in each, we had heard they were people trying to take over the home and tarnish Sam's name for their own benefit.
But, recently, we have learned this was not the case:
After hearing more and more stories about Sam, and having only prayer to rely on, we went to seek advice from a missionary here in Uganda, who has worked in this country for over 40 years. Before we even explained the struggle we were having, he informed us he was fully aware of Sam's sexual misconduct from previous volunteers in 2001. He knew them personally and said they thought the world of Sam and faithfully worked with him until they found that he was sleeping with many of the girls. Being powerless without proof, they attempted to take pictures and ascertain specific evidence without avail. Unless the girls testified against Sam themselves, nothing would happen. But, because of Sam's power in Uganda, and the fear for their lives being ruined, the girls would say nothing until the volunteers ensured them they would be taken care of and gave each money so they could sustain a livelihood without Sam. 20 females came forward against Sam and he fled arrest for over a year. When he returned, he was imprisoned for two weeks and then all charges were dropped.
(We do not have any evidence for bribery or unlawful conduct) but we do know from workers and family that Sam had a very nice house in Kampala before this trial, and after his release no longer owned the house.
Whatever happened in the situation, Sam was released, the volunteers were forced to leave, and any boys Sam thought might have supported the volunteers were sent away.
A very close friend of ours who lives in the village recently confided in us that he had been living at the home during this time. He explained that all the boys at the home knew it was taking place and anyone Daddy suspected as a threat to him, including this boy, were sent away.
We had also known of a girl taking boys from the home in the past. We believed on Sam's word she was deranged and sleeping with some of the boys and had wanted to start a home for herself to get money. He told us she gave each of the boys a kiss on the mouth and told them to leave with her in the middle of the night.
From former volunteer letters, we learned that they too had been accused of sleeping with the boys as well. So, anytime volunteers have begun to suspect Sam of misconduct, their names have been tarnished and smeared. (As if a long line of volunteers have brought money in, worked here selflessly and then tried to destroy the home for their own gain.)
Recently, we have heard the true story of this woman: She, like us, was working here and fell in love with the children, and then discovered the sexual misconduct that was taking place. Without any proof or any power, she asked her father for money to rent a building and took as many boys as would leave away in the night. Many of these boys still live in the home she started today.
And then we learned even more devastating news. This had happened only September 2007! When Sam came to America in early November to meet us and seek support, almost all sponsorship had been lost for unexplained reasons.
Instead of being skeptical, based on Sam's story and moral demeanor, plus the urgent need the children were in, we jumped in with both feet and began raising the necessary support for the home.
This was 12 months ago. From that time until now, we have been working tirelessly to provide the best situation possible for this home. All money has gone directly through us and been accounted for since our arrival and because financial corruption was the main fear we concerned ourselves with, we felt confident in asking for your faith and support in this home. Daily, weekly, and monthly we have met with Sam and lived with the children being apart of all functions in the home, accounting for each and trying to the best of our ability to maintain complete transparency. In wanting to see this home continue for many years into the future and assist Sam in his retirement, we both agreed to stay on past our year commitment, offering not just years, but a commitment of our life, whether stateside or here to sustain this home and help these kids grow into well-balanced adults. For all of these reasons, when we began to learn the truth, it was the most devastating blow of our lives, shaking us to our core.
But we felt that a strong enough friendship had grown with Sam and that if we approached the situation in love, and complete forgiveness, we could work through the situation. We saw the only real option was to accept his requests that we take over the home, help work towards his retirement, provided that he stepped down and removed all girls from under his care. It was the hardest decisions of our lives and both of us spent days and nights in prayer trying to understand the responsibility of what we were undertaking. But, our affirmation came in our love for the kids, and the commitment we have that no girls should live under such oppression, fear or abuse. We knew that if we informed sponsors before talking with him, Sam would not even listen.
Our talk with Sam went as badly as we could have conceived. We told him that we loved him, offered our forgiveness but had to bring these things to light. He had spoken to us continuously about standing up for what was right and just, and because he was misusing his power and doing what was morally corrupt in the eyes of both man and God, we told him we held firmly that it had to stop. If he would allow us to work towards his retirement and raise money for the sustainment of the home for the following year, we would help him in whatever ways we could. It was not about us or him, but about these children and the work that is so valuable. He did not consider what we said for a moment. A change came over his eyes and in second he went from seeing us as friends and instead saw us only as threats. He demanded proof and for us to bring any girl before him that would say he had touched her. We told him we would not speak to him of any girl, nor would we say any names. We also would not go to the police. We were here as his friends. He refused and said we could prove nothing. At this, we told him the only other option was to make all sponsors aware of what was happening, and what kind of lifestyle the director of the home they were supporting was living. His eyes grew even darker and he rose from the bed screaming repeatedly for us to get out of his room, and that he was not a pauper and did not need us.
We both left the conversation deeply hurt. But, we needed to continue to try. We spoke again the next day. This conversation was much more calm, but even more damaging. In a very diplomatic, but manipulative way he explained that he was not doing what people were accusing him of, and played on our emotional connection to the children asking us to stay until our agreed upon times. He brought up things people had told him about us, saying children had spread lies or accused us of misconduct too, and should he believe them? Should he tell the sponsors? In every way, he turned the conversation on us and put the children before him like a shield. Kami and I could say nothing. We knew the truth, and now watched him lie to us and try and manipulate the situation to his favor.
We left and again were at a loss. We love these children. We did not want to leave them and were completely powerless in the situation. Sam owns all the land and the buildings, and the board here in Uganda are made up of his friends. He knows the president personally and many judges, and both times that we knew people had brought these charges against him before, they had failed and were forced to leave, their names tarnished and their reputations ruined in the country. We prayed daily. We asked for God to show us a clear path. After two weeks, we found to our horror that his behavior had increased. He had sent messages, which we saw ourselves, telling teachers and workers he would provide them with a full month of food if they would sleep with him, and our cook, whose room lies adjacent to the girls' reported Sam continually entering their room late at night for extended periods of time.
And finally, we found out that Sam told his daughter (who is completely unaware of any of the misconduct) we had been spreading lies about him, and that he would let the situation quiet down and let us keep raising money for the home and the kids, and once we left, not allow us back.
We have been manipulated with children as leverage. Sam has used them to deflect the actual child and women sex crimes. This has happened to all those who have worked here in the past.
We have evaluated all sides of the problem but find ourselves completely powerless. No girls will stand against Sam and he will not be brought to justice by Ugandan law. Bribery and corruption are apart of all levels of government, and even missionaries and mentors have made it known to us that there is no judge that cannot be paid off in Uganda.
Our only ability to stop this misuse of power is to bring Sam's addiction into the light and make it known to you who support this man and his home.
We know that the children, who are innocent, are caught in the crossfire, but Sam's lies and manipulation of sponsors spreads even to his stories about these children. In trying to understand what steps to take, we have found that only 5 of the children left in the home are actually from the streets of Kampala but have reached the age of adulthood. We have also discovered that every child in the home has living relatives or parents they can live with. (They may not be great situations, but they are not destitute or starving and still have options for education.)
For us to continue in this capacity, we would only be supporting his lifestyle, and allowing ourselves to be manipulated further.
It is with the deepest pain we offer this request:
PLEASE STOP SUPPORTING DORCAS CHILDREN'S HOME.
We can assure you that the money you have sent has gone to the children's welfare and neither Sam, nor we, received any salary from your money. When we return, we will send out an end of the year report listing every donation received and where the money was spent. Sam's position and power has allowed him to act in these malicious ways, and it is this we are trying to stop, not the caring for of these children.
Although to leave them is the hardest thing either of us has ever had to do, we have found some peace in understanding that God took care of them for many years before we arrived and will continue to do so afterward. They will be cared for.
Lastly, we need to ask you above all things, to not lose hope or faith in doing what is good in the world. We ask that you continue to love and support good works despite the possibility of deception. Deceit exists everywhere, and there are always men and women who will use the innocence of others to feed their greed. It is this exact reason we can never stop doing what is right, continually seeking to care for and love those in need, especially children.
Pray for these children. Pray for the work going on all over the world. And never stop supporting those who are going to do this work.
We understand how much pain this letter will cause and that you may have many questions you need answered.
We will be returning to the states within the month. Kami will be returning within the next couple of weeks and Chris will be staying in Uganda until the end of the month. In this way, we can answer your question in person, over the phone or through email. We have asked you to have a great deal of faith in us and the work that has been going on, so we will work in every way possible to answer or meet any needs you have for us, whether stateside through Kami, or here in Uganda through Chris.
With the deepest appreciation for your love and support,
Chris & Kami
christopherandrewwest@gmail.com
kamicoy@gmail.com
