KCC rounds up 100 street children

Dec 30, 2009

ANOTHER 100 street children and women from Karamoja region were on Tuesday rounded up in Kampala city centre. This brought the number rounded up in the last two months to 400.

By Florence Nakaayi
and Juliet Waiswa

ANOTHER 100 street children and women from Karamoja region were on Tuesday rounded up in Kampala city centre. This brought the number rounded up in the last two months to 400.

The exercise was jointly carried out by Kampala City Council (KCC) and the Police.

The victims were found begging in different parts of the city such as around Shoprite, Nakumatt, Uganda House, Nasser Road, Namirembe Road and Entebbe Road. Most of the victims were children below 10 years.

Usually, adults place children as young as one year at different spots on the streets, where they spend the whole day begging till late in the night. KCC and the Police last carried out a similar exercise in October.

Unlike the previous group, most mothers rounded up were found with local brew, waragi in mineral water bottles.

Some mothers were seen staggering at the Central Police Station, where they had been detained and were later taken to Kampiringisa Resettlement Centre on the Masaka highway.

One mother, who had a malnourished toddler, was referred to Mwana Mugimu department in Mulago Hospital for treatment.

“People neighbouring this mother alleged that she could beat the kid to make her cry so as to attract sympathisers to give her money,” a Police officer, who preferred anonymity, reported.

KCC principal law officer Vincent Katungi said they will monitor the baby to ensure she is in good care.

The divisional Police commander, Anatoli Muleterwa, said they were trying to liaise with local leaders and the community in Karamoja region to ensure the Karimojong are not dumped on Kampala streets.

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