Kampala’s new breed of beggars
Jan 23, 2004
Kampala is always an interesting city with very witty people who have to survive at all cost no matter what time of day. They are survivors who are champions when the going gets tough. Excuse me I am not talking about new industrial innovators. I am talking about Kampala’s money minting beggars.
Kampala is always an interesting city with very witty people who have to survive at all cost no matter what time of day. They are survivors who are champions when the going gets tough. Excuse me I am not talking about new industrial innovators. I am talking about Kampala’s money minting beggars.
A few days ago, at Garden City, a gentleman with a paper file walked towards me. With a placid smile he begged me for transport to Kyambogo University. “How much is it to Kyambogo?†I asked.
“Whatever you can afford madam,†he whispered. With my pastor’s word in mind about ‘give and the Lord will add you,’ I gave him sh2,000, which I estimated to be more than enough.
To my surprise, the gentleman was not yet through with his business enterprise. No sooner had I moved a few metres from the place, than I saw the same guy pleading with a mzungu for money with the same facial expression he had used on me. The mzungu handed him a sh1,000 note, which he quickly pocketed and took off.
A friend of mine once told me that he was also a victim of such tricks.
A man asked him for money twice in two different locations forgetting that he had already begged from him before.
Then, they are these expensive ones who beg for money and throw it back at you if they think it is too little.
These are smart guys who have taken over from the usual beggars we see wearing rags in the streets. They have invested in begging as a way of earning income and have mastered the art of making people give them their money of their own free will.
Sadly many genuine beggars who are in urgent help have failed to get it simply because people cannot tell the difference between a genuine beggar and a cheat.
It’s not surprising that this ‘disease’ has caught up with the young ones as well. They too have acquired the begging style of calling every one either aunt or uncle. “Uncle mpayo kikumi†they say. Forget about the peaceful quest. These kids are just annoying. It takes a genuine parent to give these bunch of kinds a coin otherwise they don’t deserve a thing.
My worry goes out to the disabled beggars on the streets who are out done by the capable guys, who only fear to face reality and do an honest day’s work.
Whether this is a new way of surviving in Kampala or not, I have learnt to be mean. Until the guys come up with a new strategy, there is no fooling me any more!
A few days ago, at Garden City, a gentleman with a paper file walked towards me. With a placid smile he begged me for transport to Kyambogo University. “How much is it to Kyambogo?†I asked.
“Whatever you can afford madam,†he whispered. With my pastor’s word in mind about ‘give and the Lord will add you,’ I gave him sh2,000, which I estimated to be more than enough.
To my surprise, the gentleman was not yet through with his business enterprise. No sooner had I moved a few metres from the place, than I saw the same guy pleading with a mzungu for money with the same facial expression he had used on me. The mzungu handed him a sh1,000 note, which he quickly pocketed and took off.
A friend of mine once told me that he was also a victim of such tricks.
A man asked him for money twice in two different locations forgetting that he had already begged from him before.
Then, they are these expensive ones who beg for money and throw it back at you if they think it is too little.
These are smart guys who have taken over from the usual beggars we see wearing rags in the streets. They have invested in begging as a way of earning income and have mastered the art of making people give them their money of their own free will.
Sadly many genuine beggars who are in urgent help have failed to get it simply because people cannot tell the difference between a genuine beggar and a cheat.
It’s not surprising that this ‘disease’ has caught up with the young ones as well. They too have acquired the begging style of calling every one either aunt or uncle. “Uncle mpayo kikumi†they say. Forget about the peaceful quest. These kids are just annoying. It takes a genuine parent to give these bunch of kinds a coin otherwise they don’t deserve a thing.
My worry goes out to the disabled beggars on the streets who are out done by the capable guys, who only fear to face reality and do an honest day’s work.
Whether this is a new way of surviving in Kampala or not, I have learnt to be mean. Until the guys come up with a new strategy, there is no fooling me any more!