By Gertrude Tumusiime
Victoria Hall at Serena hotel had been filled to capacity by 10am last Thursday, when Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate the Day of the African child. The biggest number of the audience was made up of children, but while school children made up a good number of the audience, Street children were also a significant part.
The celebrations were to mark the 21st edition of the African Child, a day celebrated internationally to remember the South African children who were killed during the apartheid while they tried to advocate for a racism free education.
For some reasons, the day’s celebration in Uganda was the first of its kind. First, the theme of the day, “Altogether for action in favour of street children” was over emphasised as the day brought together many street children like never before, they were the masters of their own event.
Shortly after the occasion had kicked off, the street children’s voice was amplified when a group of more than thirty street children took up the platform to read out a Memorandum they had prepared, to the house that had gathered.
In the document presented by one of their representatives, the children demanded for their full rights and freedoms, demanding that government, and other stakeholders place their issues as priorities.
“We want the policemen to stop beating us, harassing us sexually and asking us for money, we want the government to improve the conditions in kampiringisa, and we want them to get us better places to stay other than taking them to remand homes.”
Those were some of the demands which opened the wells of mercy from the audience, in that they clapped in appreciation of every demand put across by the children.
The venue was another point of uniqueness of the day, different from what had always happened over the past years when the day was celebrated outdoors, in places like play grounds, this time, it was Serena Hotel, a renowned high profile zone.
It was the first time for many of the present street children to come to Serena hotel, in fact one of them remarked “ I have always wanted to come to this hotel for the rich people but today I am here, and I am so happy I feel like the rich people.”
The minister of gender who was also the chief guest, Hon Saida Bbumba justified the choice of Serena as a venue, as a step to show the street children that they are as important as the other privileged people.
“My dear children, bringing you here was to make you know that you can leave the streets and live a good life like that of Serena”
The celebrations were honoured by other dignified guests like, the of state minister for youth and children, Ronald Kibuule, the minister for disabled and elderly, Suleiman Kyeibakoze Madaada, the chairperson of the National council for children, Mrs Louise Biira Bwambale, the representatives from UNICEF and USAID, the commissioners for youth and children from the ministry of Gender, Labour and social development, and Bobi wine among others.
Through their statements to the audience, they all spelled hope for the Ugandan street children.
In his statement, Hon Kibuule pledged the readiness of government to work with the different stake holders to combat the influx of the street children especially on the streets of Kampala.
While she launched the National strategic programme plan of intervention (NSPPI 2), a five year plan to guide the operations dealing with orphans and other vulnerable children, Hon Bbumba promised the street children a better life than the one they are living now.
“You are our children and we are your parents, we went to help you, when we call you, do not run away from us, come to us because we want to change your life” she told them “do not worry you will put on the jeans and the nice shoes and you also be like Bobi wine.” She added
And when it was Bobi Wine’s turn to inspire the children, the house was filled with applause. When he hit the platform with his song, ‘Ghetto nazigala’ in which he inspires youth to stop drug abuse, the hope could be seen in the eyes of the excited street children who got on their feet and crowded the stage to sing and dance along with him.
This year’s celebration put special emphasis on street children because of the prevalent problem of street children in Uganda and the major aim was to try to find solutions to the influx as soon as possible. Available statistics magnify the problem.
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| Bobi Wine entertains the children. |
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| Some of the children presenting their memorandum to the house. |
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| A street child during the celebrations. |
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| School children eagerly enjoy moments during the celebrations at serena last thursday. |
The UNICEF report of 2005, indicates that Uganda has approximately 10,000 street children in towns of Uganda, 89% of these being boys while 11% being girls.
The situation is at its peak with karamoja children posing newer problems as many of them are flocking the streets of Kampala to find a better life. However, with hands joined together, the different stakeholders are determined to define a better life for the suffering Ugandan child.
tumusiimetrudy@yahoo.com
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