By George Bukenya
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) vow to arrest family members who bring their sick relatives on streets to beg for money in pretense that they are soliciting funds for treatment.
According to the authority’s Executive Director Sharif Buzeki, such errant people will be arrested and prosecuted because this contravenes Kampala Capital City Child Protection Ordinance 2022, which asserts that such ofender can be imprisoned for a period not exceeding six months or pay a fine of two currency points (about UGX 4O,000) or both upon conviction.
While addressing the media at Uganda Media Center on Wednesday, KCCA boss said same ordinance can be used to criminalize anybody who brings six people on streets for begging such family members will also be arrested and prosecuted.
“ Sick people are supposed to be in hospitals receiving treatment but family members bring them on streets to use them in a way of soliciting money from by passers, this will not be allowed anymore,’’ Buzeki said.
”We have removed them and took them to hospitals therefore i warn family members to stop such acts for they risk being prosecuted. Those intending to help such people should go to gazetted homes.”
The ordinance bars children from loitering in public places, begging or soliciting, vending or hawking, it also deters sale of alcohol and drugs to children. The law also prohibits employment of children as a domestic servant, working in kitchen of restaurants and any work that prohibits a child from attending basic educational programs.
Buzeki told journalist that since she took the KCCA mantle, 10 parents have been arrested successfully prosecuted for child neglect and many children have been removed from streets and taken back to their home districts like Natupaka and kaberebyong.
She also revealed that of those removed; six children between the ages of 12-13 were found pregnant and are attending antenatal care at the expense of KCCA.
The authority will not hastate to arrest and prosecute anybody give money to children on streets as a means of deterring them from coming back.