The plight,Kampala, homeless, street, children

Life is so sweet; but sometimes it can be so cruel. That is exactly what a homeless child; growing up on the dusty streets of Kampala will tell you because life has not been fairer to them at all.

Their survival depends on the mercy of passers by; who most of the times are even unbothered about the presence of these disadvantaged souls.  
 

When the worst comes to the worst, these children are tempted to snatch people’s valuables just to be able to get a piece of food to slide down their thirsty throats. Most of these young Ugandans; as told by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) are ferried into the city from the countryside; especially from Karamoja. Many of them reveal that they left their miserable homes hoping to live a better life in Kampala; only to find that it was much harder to survive in the capital. The best many ever get is just one meal each day.
 

The hugest percentage of these poor souls live off handouts from strangers who are sympathetic enough to part with a coin out of their large wallets filled with high value notes. A coin is just how much these children can be able to get from these people - nothing much more than that. 
 

The delinquent ones; especially the boys have more risky means of searching for survival. They mostly do pick-pocketing on unsuspecting persons, trade in illegal drugs and steal valuables from people’s houses; among other life threatening means. 

It’s easy to notice that most of these children are malnourished and diseased; considering the fact that they are unable to access medical care. Their major infections are skin related since they do not access safe water to bathe and not many clothes to change into. 
 

With many forced to practice illegal activities just to survive, they stand a risk of being lynched when caught stealing or pick-pocketing. Many Kampala dwellers have great dislike for them and they would have no chance of surviving mob justice once caught in the act.
 

The young girls are exposed to the risk of being sexually abused since they sleep in open spaces just outside the shopping arcades in the city. With no elder to protect them, they are left vulnerable and can never put up a strong fight against any males that threaten to take advantage of them.