Richard was born in April of 2002. His father, Othieno, died in the hospital after obtaining a chest injury from a fall. The mother, Elizabeth Nali, was the second wife and was unable to care for her child after the death of the father. She tried to take him to the home of the late father. The first wife refused because she also had seven children. The mother disappeared leaving Richard with the elderly grandmother, Rose Nakekyo. The mother is thought to be living on one of the islands off the coast of Lake Victoria although no one knows for sure. The grandmother had been doing her best to care for the child but it became difficult to provide for him. His grandmother brought him to Hope Children's Home on the 13th of November 2006. He was not healthy when he came to Hope. His abdomen was distended, and he was malnourished. His head was covered with a thick white patch of fungus. He looked like a little old man. He was wearing rags and had open sores all over his body.
Richard attends Sseya Community School and Sseya Revival Church. He has one brother, Ivan Owere, and one sister, Patricia Akech. Richard loves to sing and dance. He is also a good little drummer. He has become very healty and active. He no longer has skin diseases.