Street children decry exclusion in government programmes

Street children in Kabale Municipality have raised their concerns about being excluded from various government programs. They are citizens of Uganda and vulnerable like any other people. Like many other districts in Uganda, Kabale town sees numerous street children living on its streets.

In the early morning hours, our reporter visited the areas where street children reside. Some were found collecting garbage, others were playing cards, and some were seated at the entrances of supermarkets. During one-on-one chats, the street children, including Anthony Agaba, Ambrose Kihumuro, and Solomon Rubabanza, expressed their frustrations concerning their poor standards of living. They mentioned that they hear about government programs such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and the Youth Livelihood Program on radios and televisions, but feel entirely left behind. They added that while they respect government initiatives, they are surprised and disheartened by the lack of attention given to them. This continuous neglect has left them with no hope of survival but to resort to begging at the entrances of shops and supermarkets within Kabale Municipality, such as Omukyi College.

“We have been hearing on the radio about different government programs, but as street children, we have been left behind,” they said. “There is too much money that has been brought down to the grassroots by the government, but we are not seeing anything from our leaders. We respect whatever the government does, but we are being left behind.” This has greatly contributed to the retardation of their socio-economic development. The street children emphasized their readiness to participate in any government program that comes their way, requesting the government to consider them in its plans. “We are ready for any government program that comes our way, even if we are called right now. We request the government to kindly consider us and think about us in its programs,” they added. “We are also yearning for socio-economic transformation as street children, and we have hopes of utilizing any opportunity the Government of Uganda grants us.”

Patrick Tushabomwe, founder of The Shepherd Center, a home for street children, highlighted that these children, despite their circumstances, are also Ugandans and deserve to benefit from government programs. He stressed the need for a mindset change in how the public and government perceive street children, suggesting that the government should work closely with organizations that understand their nature to improve their lives, such as giving them startup capital for income-generating activities like baking confections and planning their return to their homes instead of creating places of detention for arresting them after committing crimes. “Besides being street children, they are also Ugandans and are entitled to all the benefits that other Ugandans get from the government,” Tushabomwe said. “We can easily mobilize them and run programs with them. The government can do much with them, but there is often a bad attitude towards them from both the public and government, which hinders efforts to help them.” Most people in society know them as criminals and children with no morals and values.

Monica Muhumuza, the Probation Officer for Kabale District, confirmed that Kabale, like other districts, has over 100 street children, attributing the issue to domestic violence, poverty, and poor parental guidance. She also mentioned cases of street children from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who cross into Kabale seeking better lives. “Street children are a burden to every local government, including Kabale,” Muhumuza said. “There are many causes for this issue, including domestic violence, poverty, and poor parental guidance. Kabale, being a border district, also faces challenges with children crossing from neighboring countries. The government has introduced different skilling hubs, but stakeholders in Kabale need to have a direct interest in supporting street children, identifying who they are, where they come from, and who can receive them to start planning for their future.” She emphasized that there is a big gap between the parents and their children that needs to be narrowed in order to overcome these challenges. Muhumuza further narrated that it’s a shame and a sign of cultural erosion, especially among the Bakiga people, who are known countrywide for their hospitality and generosity in African society whenever they receive guests and people in need. Over the years, street children were primarily seen in Kampala, but now they are present in various districts across the country.