Ugandan Authorities Detain 74 Street Children in Kisoro Safety Drive

Authorities in Kisoro Town, Uganda, have detained 74 street children in a joint operation by the Municipal Council Law Enforcement and the Uganda Police Force. The move aims to enhance public safety and protect the welfare of vulnerable children within the municipality.

The operation, conducted across markets, roadsides, and business centers, targeted the growing presence of children living and working on the streets. Principal Community Development Officer Front Birungi stated that the detained children will undergo profiling to establish their identities and family backgrounds. Birungi noted the challenge in tracing some families, as many children could not provide contact information for their parents or guardians.

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Our goal is to keep the municipality safe from street-related crime and at the same time protect the welfare of these children.

Kisoro Municipality Mayor John King Mbonigaba highlighted that many of these children are not from Kisoro Town itself but from surrounding villages and neighboring countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo. He stressed that children belong in school, not on the streets, where they are exposed to risks like theft and negative peer influences. The operation received support from local vendors who have faced disruptions due to the presence of street children in commercial areas. Authorities plan to continue profiling the children to facilitate family reunification and develop long-term solutions to the street children issue.

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The increasing number of street children is a challenge to the municipality. It can lead to theft and other crimes as some join bad peer groups.