LCI chairman warns of lawsuit if government arrests street children

15 April 2025, 11:29 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Local Council One (LC1) Chairman for Buwanika Zone-Kisenyi I, Kampala Central Division, Swaleh Tibamwenda, has expressed concern about how the issues of street children are handled by the Youth Ministry. Tibamwenda is recognised as one of the few individuals in Kampala Central Division who has been advocating for the rights of street children and working to improve their lives. This is supported by testimonies from some of the children, who confirmed that he has been there for them, with several of their peers being adopted by individuals and organisations through his efforts.

“The ministry responsible for assisting street children does not consider them as youths. When they think of youth, they focus only on those not living on the streets. I have done my best to collaborate with various organisations and churches to find a solution for these individuals. I take this opportunity to thank Phaneroo Ministries, led by Apostle Grace Lubega, for taking in nearly 30 children. Some have been reunited with their families, while others have returned to school. Recently, I attended the graduation of 12 street children who were trained in tailoring, mechanics, and other skills. This is the type of work the ministry should be doing,” he said.

The chairman further stated that the Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Balam Barugahara, should not repeat the actions of Hon. Nakiwala Kiyingi. “I appeal to the minister responsible for youth, never to do what Hon. Florence Nakiwala did. She received funding allocated for youth programmes but used it to arrest street children by giving money to police officers who carried out the operation. However, this was not the solution, as after a few weeks, the children were released from Kampilingisa Prison and returned to the streets. Had she consulted us, the situation would have been different because we could have advised on how these children could be peacefully removed from the streets,” he said.

Additionally, the Minister has been urged to visit the ground to gather reliable information about these children and seek advice from local leaders like Tibamwenda. “It would be beneficial if the minister visited the ground to find out what should be done because we know what these children need. Remember, everyone you see on the streets of Kampala has a different background, and each has their own reasons for running away from home. They need to be listened to before we begin addressing their issues. If you try to force them to do what they don’t want, it will be very difficult to remove them from the streets,” Tibamwenda noted.

“I would welcome the minister’s visit so we can speak to him and explain exactly what should be done in detail. If the advice we give is implemented by the ministry, within two years, the majority of street children will be off the streets. But if they continue with arrests, we will take them to court, as these are Ugandan citizens who deserve proper planning from their government,” he added. Many people in politics have testified that they were once street children but are now successful. Pastors like Pastor Wilson Bugembe of The Worship House in Nansana Municipality have also shared their experiences, stating that they spent significant time on the streets. However, they were helped, and now many lives have been transformed through their work. In other words, these street children can become productive members of society if they are handled with care and support.