About Richard Sempa

Born in the streets of Uganda, but now making a difference in the same street
from which he was rescued.

If you found a hopeless baby in the dirty pitiful hands of street children, you may be quick to say, “it would have been better for that child not to have been born.” The fact is that child could have very well been Richard and you would not be reading his story now. Here is his story as told by him.

I don’t know when and how I was born. I don’t even know who my parents were. By the time I was old enough to understand I was in the streets of Kampala, Uganda being taken care of by fellow street kids. I don’t know how I survived the dirt, hunger, coldness, disease and danger! I don’t even know how a stranger named Rev. Kefa Ssempangi decided to take me off the streets. All I know Is that this Good Samaritan gave me more than shelter, food and clothing.

He gave me hope!

I was one of 300 orphaned and abandoned children the Rev. Kefa took into his home. While there I was able to study up to High school. I learned how to behave like a normal home grown child. But more than anything else, I was helped to develop a personal relationship with God-something that has come to be the most important thing in my Life.

Though I did not make it to college, I met Rev. Peter .K , who accepted me to stay in his office while doing my computer studies, as well as working as a computer teacher for high school students and lay pastors around Kampala. I started to interacting with a lot of youths. I remember a time when a teenage girl came to me crying after being raped repeatedly by her 34year old cousin. I was able to intervene and made sure this innocent girl was taken far away from the abusive relative.

Since 2002 I have felt  a strong conviction of helping  certain kind of people, dropped (abandoned) babies, street children and orphans in Africa. The kind of people whose destinies we will never know if they are murdered in cold blood. I am speaking for the innocent children who need to be given a chance to live.

Something deep inside my heart tells me that is why I am still alive. Yes, the story of my life tells me that even for the unwanted child and babies dropped in trash cans, at hospitals and on the streets, those affected by HIV/AIDS and civil war in Northern Uganda there is a hope and a future.

I am glad my mother didn’t abort me. I am so glad my mom gave me a chance to life. After interacting with a lot of young people the Lord led me to start a non-profit organization, Africa Life Youth Foundation, to support and raise up the next generation for a better future and life in Christ Jesus.

I am continuing to get advanced Biblical education and leadership training through various programs. We minister to, support and train young people to become productive members of society and the leaders of tomorrow.

The life of God is the healing of the nations. Revelation 22: 1-3

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding it’s fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.