KCCA Rescues 157 Children from Kampala Streets
The children were picked from downtown Kampala, Wandegeya, Kabalagala, and Kansanga.
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has rescued 157 children from the streets of Kampala. The children were picked from downtown Kampala, Wandegeya, Kabalagala, and Kansanga.
Daniel Nuwabine, the KCCA spokesperson, said that the operation was a response to the alarming problem of child exploitation, particularly the use of children for begging and trafficking.
Nuwabine said that most of the children are trafficked, mainly from the northeastern part of the country, as well as other regions. He further explained that KCCA, in collaboration with other government agencies, will help take the rescued children to Napak for training in livelihood skills.
Street children remain a major concern in Kampala despite KCCA’s ongoing efforts to rescue them. The same issue exists in other major cities in Uganda, where children, mostly from Karamoja, are often seen begging on the streets.
Nuwabine said that the authority is set to launch a sensitization drive to educate parents on the importance of taking children to school and keeping them safe.
In the past, the rescued children were relocated to the Kobulin Youth Rehabilitation and Skilling Center in Napak district for comprehensive rehabilitation.
The facility not only provides them a safe haven but also equips them with the necessary skills to reintegrate into society as productive individuals.
In 2022, the Kampala Child Protection Ordinance was passed. It prohibits anyone from sending a child to beg or solicit for alms in public places, streets, offices, or commercial establishments.
In previous operations, KCCA has also been apprehending adults who accompany children to the streets. For instance, in September 2022, the City Hall Court sentenced 25 women for sending their children to beg on the streets.
