Parliament: It is now illegal to donate anything to street children

Parliament has passed a bill that makes it illegal to offer any donation to street children, Nile Post reports.

According to the new law, any person who offers a donation in terms of money, food or any help to street children commits a criminal offence and might face up to six months in jail or a standard fine of UGX 41,350.

This, according to parliament, will reduce on the commercial exploitation of children who trafficked from areas of Karamoja, Soroti among others and brought on the streets to beg.

 

On February 25th this year, NBS Television Investigative desk aired a report on how girls in Soroti are bought at as low as Shs 50,000 and later enslaved in Kampala as victims if trafficking for either labour - as beggars or sex slaves.

Now Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago said that the new law will look at penalising child traffickers, parents of the children that will be found on the streets and those that give them donations.

The new law will also look at penalising anyone who houses a child below the age of 18 years for sexual activities.

It also prohibits children from engaging in any form of trade.