Bukoto, Ntinda residents decry increased number of street kids, 249 rescued
“We are overwhelmed by the many street kids from Karamoja and other places occupying this place at night, and they cause unnecessary discomfort to the residents,” Kawawa said. He said they surface during day, but when they see enforcement officers, they disappear and go to Kalinabiri I and Kalinabiri II in Bukoto Parish.
Some of the street kids picked up by KCCA enforcement team along Bukoto-Ntinda Road. Courtesy photo
KAMPALA - Residents of Bukoto and Ntinda in Nakawa Division, Kampala, have decried the increased number of street kids hailing from Karamoja and other regions in their area.
According to Rashid Kawawa, the chairperson of Bukoto II parish, the street kids aged between 6 and 14 invade the area at night and sleep in Ntinda-Mutoola zone, leaving the area dirty as they defecate in the open.
“We are overwhelmed by the many street kids from Karamoja and other places occupying this place at night, and they cause unnecessary discomfort to the residents,” Kawawa said.
The Weyonje challenge is aimed at keeping the five divisions of Kampala city clean. (Credit: Francis Emorut)
He said they surface during day, but when they see enforcement officers, they disappear and go to Kalinabiri I and Kalinabiri II in Bukoto Parish.
Residents said the street kids have also invaded parts of Kyanja, Ntinda and Kisaasi. A total of 249 street kids were rescued.
Some of the street kids picked up by KCCA enforcement team along Bukoto-Ntinda Road. Courtesy photo
“We have food vendors who sell food at night in ungazetted places, especially at a place called “Spice”, surrounding the building, which doesn’t have toilets. We are shocked in the morning to find faeces all over the place,” said Joseph Kamya, the chairperson of Ntinda market
He raised the complaint to the leadership of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), saying unless they intervene, the situation would become worse.
The Weyonje challenge is aimed at keeping the five divisions of Kampala city clean. The launch was officiated by the deputy executive of the authority, Benon Kigenyi, who was accompanied by the director of public health, Dr Sarah Zalwango, and the town clerk of Nakawa Division, Moses Sempa.
The deputy executive director of KCCA, Benon Kigenyi (C), prepares to plant a tree seedling during the launch of Weyonje sanitation challenge at Bukoto II Parish in Nakawa Division. (Credit: Francis Emorut)
According to Kigenyi, the launch was conducted in Nakawa Division to motivate the people to become the first winners of the Weyonje sanitation challenge since they were the last in the previous year's competition that was won by Kawempe Division. It is also being implemented in other divisions of Rubaga, Kampala Central and Makindye.
“We have launched the Weyonje sanitation challenge, which enables us (KCCA) to reach the community to participate in the cleanliness of their area. We have conducted it in Nakawa Division to motivate them to become first winners and not the last, as it happened last year,” Kagenyi said.
Dr Zalwango appealed to Nakawa residents to sort garbage separately by putting organic and inorganic garbage in different containers
The Weyonje Sanitation Challenge is a community-led cleanliness and behavioural change campaign launched by KCCA to improve waste management, hygiene, and environmental health across Kampala.