Kampala authorities rescue 114 children from street exploitation

City authorities and security forces in Kampala, Uganda, rescued 114 children from the streets during an operation on a Friday evening.

The group of rescued children includes 82 girls and 32 boys who had spent days and nights on the streets seeking food and survival. The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) plans to move the children to Masulita Children’s Village in Wakiso District. This facility will provide rehabilitation for the children before they return to their communities and enter school.

The KCCA says the rescue operation is still ongoing across different parts of the city to move children into safer environments. Many of these children travel from different regions of Uganda to the capital after being promised jobs or better opportunities. Officials say these children often end up trapped in street life. Ms Sharifah Buzeki, the KCCA Executive Director, noted that traffickers continue to lure children with promises of financial support for their families.

She urged district authorities to use policy frameworks that help reunite, protect, and educate children removed from the streets. The KCCA reported that it has rescued more than 900 street children since January 2024. These children come from various areas including Napak, Masaka, Mbarara, Mbale, Kisolo, and Iganga. Masulita Children’s Village currently houses about 640 children and has served 24,000 children since 1989.