WHAT SORT OF UGANDANS ARE WE RAISING ON STREETS?


For some time now, the beggars on Kampala streets have increased steadily and unabated. These range from children, mothers and other adults. There was an effort by the responsible authorities to deal with this situation but it looks like this was only temporary or responding to situations such as visiting Heads of Governments or Dignitaries. It is sad to see that when a diplomat is coming to Uganda, the relevant authorities swing into action and clear the streets! Surprisingly, after the return of the dignitaries, the situation normalizes and the relevant authorities do not care at all.

Much as the situation on our streets may represent the state of inequality and living of Ugandans, the failure by the authorities to address the same is treasonous to public living. These beggars are increasing every day and are becoming a public nuisance especially those that claim they are and yet in actual sense they are thieves. The so called beggars have victimized both private and public property especially when one refuses to hand them a coin or two. What sort of Uganda are we grooming on streets? Their mindset tells them to beg day and night and in the event that one does not give, their punishment is vandalizing their property. We cannot continue to operate this way as a country that is focused to leaving no one behind towards attaining a middle-income country by 2020.

There is another caliber of street beggars-children hawkers who will come to a car window in a bid to sale merchandise (not theirs) but actually turn up begging. These are always between 6 and 10years exposed to all kinds of risks. These children spend all their life hawking merchandises to prospective buyers. Do they go to school? Are they commissioned by their parents/guardians to hawk on streets? These among others are the many unanswered questions. This practice is glaring child abuse and whoever is responsible for “using” these children to enrich them is violating the children’s’ rights intentionally.

I therefore call upon Kampala City Council Authority and other relevant authorities to immediately find solution to this issue as Kampala is slowly turning into a hub for wrong doers. Further, the public that continues to offer money to these “beggars” is part of the problem. They encourage all the energetic young boys and girls to leave meaningful work and come to the streets because they expect earnings! As we condemn government for failing to create jobs, create conducive living conditions for Ugandans to stop begging, we also have a role to play.

Lastly, I call upon the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development to rescue the children (next generation) from such wastage. These children deserve better parenting, schooling and good life other than enduring the speeding cars and scotching sun all in the name of survival.

Meaningful development is that which involves and affects every life directly.

Michael Aboneka Jr.

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