It is time we focused on street children
Sep 14, 2008
The Government seemed to have found a solution for street children during CHOGM but this was short-lived. Research by the US Bureau for Labour Affairs indicates that about 5,000 children in Uganda beg, wash cars, scavenge, work as commercial sex workers and sell small items on the streets of Kampala
David Muwonge
The Government seemed to have found a solution for street children during CHOGM but this was short-lived. Research by the US Bureau for Labour Affairs indicates that about 5,000 children in Uganda beg, wash cars, scavenge, work as commercial sex workers and sell small items on the streets of Kampala. The number of street children has been rising steadily for the last five years.
The majority of these homeless children are from Karamoja. The main causes of children’s problems today are armed conflict, diseases, lack of education, abusive parents or guardians, inadequate services and entrenched poverty.
Commercial buildings have more destitutes on the verandas than night watchmen. The young boys and girls break loose from hiding at 7:00pm to assemble on Bombo, Wilson and Entebbe roads. The city is no longer safe. Murder and rape cases are bound to increase because of these drug-sniffing children who will be adults soon.
In addition, tall, dark complexioned women with African bangles and anklets loiter the streets. They stretch their hands out to ask for a penny and younger girls aged 3-17 years lead in the quest for handouts. They run up and about the streets seeking for attention from the pedestrians and drivers while crying out “uncle, auntie,†whom they believe will provide for the day’s meal. This is not good for them and Uganda as a whole because we are supposed to be raising future leaders.
Ministries and departments concerned should come up with a strategy to fight the problem of street children. This should not be left to charity organisations such as Lift Jesus Global Ministries, which is building a multi-million vulnerable children’s home in Kabale. Graduates of Psychology should also provide psychiatric help to street children. They would be helpful in resolving issues such as why these children run away from home, the effects of child soldiering, forced marriages and increasing school dropouts.
Street children should not be abandoned but embraced because they are future leaders. Many can be given an opportunity to make it in life like gospel artiste Wilson Bugembe, a former street child who is now an inspiration to many.
The Government seemed to have found a solution for street children during CHOGM but this was short-lived. Research by the US Bureau for Labour Affairs indicates that about 5,000 children in Uganda beg, wash cars, scavenge, work as commercial sex workers and sell small items on the streets of Kampala. The number of street children has been rising steadily for the last five years.
The majority of these homeless children are from Karamoja. The main causes of children’s problems today are armed conflict, diseases, lack of education, abusive parents or guardians, inadequate services and entrenched poverty.
Commercial buildings have more destitutes on the verandas than night watchmen. The young boys and girls break loose from hiding at 7:00pm to assemble on Bombo, Wilson and Entebbe roads. The city is no longer safe. Murder and rape cases are bound to increase because of these drug-sniffing children who will be adults soon.
In addition, tall, dark complexioned women with African bangles and anklets loiter the streets. They stretch their hands out to ask for a penny and younger girls aged 3-17 years lead in the quest for handouts. They run up and about the streets seeking for attention from the pedestrians and drivers while crying out “uncle, auntie,†whom they believe will provide for the day’s meal. This is not good for them and Uganda as a whole because we are supposed to be raising future leaders.
Ministries and departments concerned should come up with a strategy to fight the problem of street children. This should not be left to charity organisations such as Lift Jesus Global Ministries, which is building a multi-million vulnerable children’s home in Kabale. Graduates of Psychology should also provide psychiatric help to street children. They would be helpful in resolving issues such as why these children run away from home, the effects of child soldiering, forced marriages and increasing school dropouts.
Street children should not be abandoned but embraced because they are future leaders. Many can be given an opportunity to make it in life like gospel artiste Wilson Bugembe, a former street child who is now an inspiration to many.