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308 children from the Karamojong community, who were previously begging on the streets of Kampala, have been repatriated and enrolled in schools within Napak district. These children, aged between 5 and 15 years, arrived in Napak on Thursday and were promptly taken to two primary schools designated by district authorities for their education. Importantly, they are expected to remain in school for a year without returning home or contacting their parents.
Under the care of partners such as UWESO, Koinonia, and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), these children have been enrolled in Lotome Girls Primary School and Lokodiokodio Primary School in Ngoleriet Sub County. Jovia Akeihangwe, the National Coordinator of the KOINONIA organization, emphasized that the children would receive comprehensive support, including educational materials, uniforms, and other necessities, throughout their schooling year.
The KOINONIA organization, alongside other partners, will deploy social workers at each school to oversee the children’s well-being and facilitate communication with their parents during scheduled visits. Zaina Nakubulwa, the Children’s Welfare Supervisor at Kampala Capital City Authority, explained that these children were identified and retrieved from various streets across the city, where they were exposed to dangers associated with begging.
Denis Okori Odiny, the Head of Programs at UWESO, highlighted the poor health conditions of many of the children upon arrival, necessitating immediate medical attention. Beyond school enrollment, UWESO aims to educate parents on the risks of child trafficking and empower them for improved livelihoods.
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In Napak, the District Speaker, John Bosco Agilu, underscored the resolution to keep the children away from their parents for three years, aimed at breaking the cycle of street life recurrence. Agilu appealed to the government for ongoing support to ensure the children remain in school during holidays, emphasizing the need for interventions to address challenges such as water scarcity in Lokodiokodio Primary School.
While expressing gratitude for the support received from partners, Agilu urged for sustained assistance, given the district’s financial constraints in managing children’s affairs. Judith Nakoya, the Napak District Education Officer, highlighted plans to recruit more teachers and improve infrastructure to create a conducive learning environment for the repatriated children.
Additionally, Nakoya assured that efforts were made to integrate the children seamlessly into school life without stigma. The initiative follows a recent effort by Kampala Capital City Authority to rehabilitate Karamojong mothers, who were found responsible for sending their children to beg on the streets. Through community service sentences and rehabilitation efforts, authorities aim to address the root causes of child street begging and provide sustainable solutions for vulnerable communities.
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