Filthy Kisenyi slum conditions irk Govt official

By Francis Emorut               

The appalling living conditions of Kisenyi slum dwellers  has irked the commissioner in charge of youth and child affairs in the ministry of gender, labour and social development.

Commissioner Mondo Kyateka was angered after touring Kisenyi slum in Rubaga Division, Kampala where he saw dilapidated houses and pit latrines and blocked drainage systems.

“This is horrible. How can human beings live in such an area?” Kyateka asked of the deplorablestate of affairs of the slum dwellers.

“This is a big problem. Government must invest in information dissemination to uplift the standards of its citizens.”

His suggestion was clear: That government invests money in creating mass awareness about its programmes to enable citizens live better lives.

He cited programmes such as National Agricultural Advisory Services, Savings Credit Coperative Orgnaisations, youth fund and prosperity for all popularly known as Bonna bagaggawale.

He said unless Government injects more money in the area of information education, communication poverty will remain a big challenge among the citizens especially the youth.

Kyateka was speaking at the launch of youth campaign to mark Ugandan’s 50 years of independence at Kisenyi 3 slum area in Rubaga division, Kampala over the weekend.

The launch was organized by African Youth Development Link in partnership with Summit Foundation.

The campaign is aimed at enabling the youth to participate in the event and in the decision-making process about policies governing the country.

He stressed the need for sensitizing the population on Government programes to enable them get adequate information.

The youth appealed to the Government to find them alternative areas where they can engage in productive activities after some of them were recently evicted from Kaltuzi Lorry Park, along Katwe road in Rubaga division.

“My wives are threatening to leave me because I no longer take bread at home,” Henry Lukwago told the commissioner.

Lukwago, 33, a resident of Nsambya Kevina zone, a Kampala suburb told the commissioner that the majority of youth who were evicted have been threatened by their landlords to look for accommodation elsewhere.

Kyateka informed the youth that they should take advantage of Government’s youth fund to better their lives.

The programme officer of African Development Link Martin Wandada urged the youth to be innovative so as to access the youth fund.