K’jong street women live life on edge
Jane Nafula & Evelyn Lirri
Kampala
Ms Cecelia Abura, 22, strategically sits in front of Shoprite supermarket
probably to win the sympathy of the numerous shoppers and other passersby.
Besides her are the wooden crutches which support her when she is walking.
She lost her feet to fire when she was still a little child. On her laps, is
her two year old daughter, Arieng. Whereas some children start walking at one
year, Abura’s two-year old daughter can hardly walk, let alone stand on her
own. She is malnourished and stunted. She has been weakened by hunger and the
constant malaria she has suffered ever since she was born.
As part of a daily routine, as Abura heads to Shoprite, her four other children
also take strategic positions at various locations to beg. In a day she makes
between Shs200 and Shs300.
Each of her children make about Shs 400. But like any other business, some days
they don’t make any money.
She says that while her and the children head to town to beg, her husband
remains in their make shift shelter in the nearby Katwe slum.
Abura who hails from Matany, Moroto district is just one of several Karimojongs
surviving by begging on the streets of Kampala. Abura claims they were forced
to flee their village due to hunger and the frequent attacks from the warriors.
A secondary school dropout, Abura says she came to Kampala using a bus but she
does not recall the fare. That was three years ago.
On the streets, life is not all rosy for this mother of five who has to eke a
living every day. The appalling conditions of women and children who have in
recent years flocked the streets of Kampala has attracted the attention of the
public and government.
According to Mr Ssentongo Crissy from the Centre for Strategic Studies Research
and Development, there is a need to address the Karimojong problem right from
where they hail from. “As a person who has researched on the issue of
Karimajong children, people should understand that issues go beyond the belief
that using force to return them home will solve this problem,” Mr Ssentongo
says.
“At the beginning of 2007 force was used to round them up and all of a sudden
the government forced them to board buses and transported them to Kobline
reception centre. But within two weeks they were back,” he adds.
To him, Karimajong women and children are facing problems partly due to
culture, nature of their region and insecurity.
“This has followed them beyond Karamoja up to Kampala, Mbale, Iganga, Soroti
where they have migrated hoping to find a better life. Children rights are
abused in the very eyes of those supposed to protect them.”
“The problem of adults supervising children begging can be addressed
holistically,’’he reveals. But state minister for Youth and Children’s Affairs,
Maj. James Kinobe revealed that there are people who are making money out of
the plight of the Karimojong women and children who flock the streets of
Kampala.
“There are push factors behind all this. We have information that some people
go and bring these children from their district and use them to beg on the
streets. This is unacceptable,’’he said.
“Most of these children are from two sub counties-mostly from Bokora and not
the entire Karamoja region,’’Maj. Kinobe explained. He said although government
has tried to resettle the Karimojong back to their homes, unscrupulous
individuals are taking advantage of the plight of the conditions in Karamoja to
bring the children back on the streets.
He revealed that although the public innocently give these street beggars
money, they are reaping as much as Shs 50,000 everyday. “This is what keeps
them coming and remaining on the streets every day. This money is shared
between the person who gets them from Karamoja to Iganga and the one who
connects the chain to Kampala,’’Maj. Kinobe said. Charity organizations says
about 90% of all children on Kampala’s streets who are below two years old hail
from Karamoja.
Most of these Children lack the basic medical care, evidenced by the small
bodies, running noses and stunted growth. Shelter is also a nightmare to many
of them. Many are housed in small makeshift structures, often accommodating up
to 30 people for a house meant for five people. For these houses, they pay Shs
100 for children and Shs 200-300 for adults per night. “It’s real hard life.
But it is better than remaining in Karamoja,’’says Ms Abura.
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