War and HIV/AIDS affected households find it extremely difficult to provide the necessary protection and livelihoods to the orphans who may be in their care. This is mainly the result of increased poverty, hopelessness and despair, all of which is the outcome of the lack of employment, constant chronic illness and insecurity. The article is derived out of research conducted in Ugandan six districts in 2005. The research findings show that far from realizing the government’s aspirations of orphans being provided for by the extended family, the reality is that the family itself was vulnerable and not in a position to deliver the necessary protection and livelihoods. This placed the orphans in a precarious situation and heightened their vulnerability to abuse, poverty and other violations of their human rights.