‘Vagabonds’ are a big labour force
Jan 20, 2009
<b>Letter of the day</b><br><br>EDITOR—Former British Prime minister Margaret Thatcher otherwise known as the ‘Iron Lady’ used to respond to criticism of her government’s policies on unemployment by saying: “If there were simple answers, we (t
Letter of the day
EDITOR—Former British Prime minister Margaret Thatcher otherwise known as the ‘Iron Lady’ used to respond to criticism of her government’s policies on unemployment by saying: “If there were simple answers, we (the Conservative Party) would find them.†Her approach led to a liberal economic trend called ‘There is No Alternative’.
She was implying that the opposition should not criticise just for the sake of criticising, but should come up with viable solutions to the country’s economic problems or support the positive policies the government was making. Only time would tell whether there was really no political or economic alternative to the policy decisions of the Conservative party.
This scenario can be used in reflection of the broad political and economic situation in Uganda. But I wish to narrow it down to police action mainly, but not only, in Kampala of rounding up hundreds of what some newspapers have called ‘vagabonds’, a term comprising street children, vagrants (kireereese), marijuana smokers, matatu gamblers, and suspect iron bar (butayimbwa) thugs.
Police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba, is frustrated that police rounds up some of the hard core criminals, but courts give them light sentences and they are back on the street in a short while. I do not know the real reasons why courts decide to give short sentences if at all, but my guess is that they are trying to address the problem of congestion in our prisons.
It is hard to run prisons even in rich countries. In a country like Uganda, it is even harder. Most prisons are lice-infested, and that is only one of the problems.
Mindful that there is no easy answer to the problem of vagabonds and vagrants in Kampala, here is a suggestion. Can the government or parliament consider it? Can these people do community service as a punishment or as part of remedial experience?
Why not turn them into a force that collects garbage or cleans the city? The vagrants who are not hard core criminals could even do this for a fee. We have in these people a labour force consisting of energetic young people that is currently not being utilised.
They can be used to make bricks. All you need is a little bit of organisation. They should be encouraged to take part in sports. A training programme could be put together.
Trainers and mentors could be drawn from the police, UPDF, clergy, and social workers. I suggest that the programme is given the name ‘TOUGH LOVE’. The courts simply do not have a solution to vagrants and perhaps not nearly enough knowledge and understanding of the problem.
Rev Amos Kasibante
amos.kasibante@virgin.net
EDITOR—Former British Prime minister Margaret Thatcher otherwise known as the ‘Iron Lady’ used to respond to criticism of her government’s policies on unemployment by saying: “If there were simple answers, we (the Conservative Party) would find them.†Her approach led to a liberal economic trend called ‘There is No Alternative’.
She was implying that the opposition should not criticise just for the sake of criticising, but should come up with viable solutions to the country’s economic problems or support the positive policies the government was making. Only time would tell whether there was really no political or economic alternative to the policy decisions of the Conservative party.
This scenario can be used in reflection of the broad political and economic situation in Uganda. But I wish to narrow it down to police action mainly, but not only, in Kampala of rounding up hundreds of what some newspapers have called ‘vagabonds’, a term comprising street children, vagrants (kireereese), marijuana smokers, matatu gamblers, and suspect iron bar (butayimbwa) thugs.
Police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba, is frustrated that police rounds up some of the hard core criminals, but courts give them light sentences and they are back on the street in a short while. I do not know the real reasons why courts decide to give short sentences if at all, but my guess is that they are trying to address the problem of congestion in our prisons.
It is hard to run prisons even in rich countries. In a country like Uganda, it is even harder. Most prisons are lice-infested, and that is only one of the problems.
Mindful that there is no easy answer to the problem of vagabonds and vagrants in Kampala, here is a suggestion. Can the government or parliament consider it? Can these people do community service as a punishment or as part of remedial experience?
Why not turn them into a force that collects garbage or cleans the city? The vagrants who are not hard core criminals could even do this for a fee. We have in these people a labour force consisting of energetic young people that is currently not being utilised.
They can be used to make bricks. All you need is a little bit of organisation. They should be encouraged to take part in sports. A training programme could be put together.
Trainers and mentors could be drawn from the police, UPDF, clergy, and social workers. I suggest that the programme is given the name ‘TOUGH LOVE’. The courts simply do not have a solution to vagrants and perhaps not nearly enough knowledge and understanding of the problem.
Rev Amos Kasibante
amos.kasibante@virgin.net