Father of abandoned children surfaces

The father to Shafik Ssekatawa a 13- year- old boy who fends for his twin siblings has surfaced days after Vision Group platforms published a story about his children. 

Swaibu Mutebi the father said he received a call from the Local Chairman of Kigganda zone in Kawempe division letting him know that his wife had abandoned the children.

"Recently, I received a phone call from the LC who told me that my wife had gone to fetch water and never came back hence abandoning the children home," Swaibu narrated. 

The father could have surfaced but Ssekatawa might not be relieved of his "forced" duties that include looking after his siblings and the privilege of enjoying his childhood like any children.

We revisit his story.  

If you are in Kigganda zone, Kawempe division, you will hardly miss out on the name Ssekatawa the 13-year-old who has become popular in the area.

At such a young age, Shafik Ssekatawa, has sacrificed his happiness to support his twin siblings. The day we visited, it took us 40 minutes from Jinja road to Kawempe.

One has to bear the pain of Kawempe traffic and jumping over garbage and stagnant water to locate where Ssekatawa lives. We were finally able to penetrate the crowded neighbourhood, which consists mainly of residential rentals and a few shops and markets. On our way, we could see malnourished children playing outside the dilapidated houses.

Other residents were either watching TV or playing cards. When Sunday Vision arrived at Ssekatawa's home, we were welcomed by the chairperson, bodaboda riders and neighbours. When I finally met him, he was a pitiful sight. Ssekatawa was dressed in an oversized red shirt and faded blue shorts.

Carol Kasujja poses for a picture with Ssekatawa at his home in Kawempe.

Every morning, Ssekatawa wakes up to collect scrap metal and fetch water for neighbours. For his time and labour, he earns sh500 for a kg of scrap and sh200 for water, from which he buys food for himself and his 11-month-old twin siblings. His woes began in December last year, when his mother went to fetch water on Christmas eve but did not return. That time his father was working in South Sudan, but he was unable to send help for the family.

"The money I have been earning from fetching water and selling scrap metals is not enough. But it has enabled me to buy for the twins food like pineapples, bread and chapatti. Whenever I fail to get money, we sleep hungry," Ssekatawa said. With tears flowing down his cheeks, he recounted that whenever the children would fall sick he would call neighbours to give him medicine.

The twins look malnourished. Theirs is evidently a condition that requires immediate medical attention. However, their father Swaibu who has recently returned from Sudan, says he cannot afford the expense. In fact, Swaibu said he does not have enough money to look after all the children.

"I was granted a bodaboda by a charitable person, but I need to first identify a stage where I can operate from. I have just come back and I am in need of support. I am not in position to look after the family, because I am also sick. I am happy that Shafik was able to look after his siblings, while I was away. Their mother left a long time ago, but he was strong enough to look after them. He is my hero," Swaibu said.

 Swaibu with his children in their one-roomed bedsitter. 

The area is infested with mosquitoes, but the twins sleep on an old bed without bedsheets or a mosquito net. Though most children his age are back to school this time of the year, Ssekatawa worries where he will get the school fees.

"I am supposed to be in P5, but I cannot, because there is no money. Even though my father is back home, he is also poor," Ssekatawa said.

Besides being a slum, Ssekatawa's neighborhood is characterised by a high crime rate and poor hygiene.

"This zone is very hard to stay in. We have so many problems, children are not going to school and many youth are unemployed. The government should help us," Elizabeth Namubiru, the chairperson Kigganda zone, said. Namubiru also blamed the landlady where the children have been living for not reporting the matter in time.

"We made a call and told all landlords to register their tenants, but they have refused. If that landlady had told us about the children's plight, we would have rescued them. It is really pitiful," Namubiru added. No one is aware of the mother's whereabouts. Ssekatawa implored well-wishers to help mentor his dream of becoming a doctor.