Karamojong Children Settle in Matany Streets after Kampala Closing Its Doors

Authorities in Napak District are concerned about the increasing number of street children loitering around Matany Town Council. This follows interventions by the Napak District Local Government, Joint Security Forces, and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to curb child trafficking and repatriate street children back to Karamoja, enrolling them in schools.

However, children who could not escape back to Kampala have now resorted to camping in Matany Town Council, one of the largest urban centers in Napak District. Currently, over 175 children from sub-counties like Lotome, Ngoleriet, Lokopo, Lopei, Iriiri, and parts of Moroto District are loitering and sleeping on the streets of Matany Town.

Daniel Korobe, the LC3 chairperson of Matany Town Council, reported a surge in children fleeing their homes to live on the streets, attributing this to poor parenting and high poverty levels. Korobe noted that these children are heavily involved in drug abuse, posing a security threat to the town council. 

He criticized parents for allowing their children to loiter instead of attending school, believing that street life reduces their burden of responsibilities. Korobe expressed that his office is overwhelmed with cases of children who no longer respect their parents and prefer street life. He urged the government to round up the children and enroll them in schools, as was done for those repatriated from Kampala.

Robert Abia Owilli, the Napak Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, noted that in traditional African society, children were considered the responsibility of the entire community. However, this trend has changed, negatively impacting the children. He highlighted that high illiteracy levels and negative attitudes towards education have encouraged street life among children.

Owilli called for action from parents to ensure all children attend school as a means to secure their future. He pointed out that despite efforts to create an enabling environment in schools, parents must use available resources to support their children’s education, including selling livestock if necessary.

Dennis Okori, the Napak Resident District Commissioner, emphasized the need for all stakeholders to work together to ensure children attend school. He noted that under the compulsory education program, efforts have been made to enroll over 435 school-aged children who were loitering in the community into primary education.

Okori added that the district is working to eliminate child trafficking and street children, and plans to focus on children hidden in kraals. He called for strategic, sustainable, and consistent support to keep children in school.

Jessica Abenakyo Badebye, the Programs Manager of Dwelling Places organization, commended the efforts of development partners and the Napak District Local Government in rescuing children from street life. She noted that children are now happily attending school, but more efforts are needed to ensure others are also enrolled. 

Badebye stressed the importance of supporting children already in school to motivate them in their learning. She highlighted the challenges faced by these children, including the lack of basic needs and scholastic materials. Badebye also mentioned ongoing community engagement, training, dialogues, and awareness-raising initiatives aimed at preventing child trafficking and sexual exploitation, and called for more parenting training on these issues.

***URN***

Post Views: 1,002