Gov’t urged to step up funding for child protection

Stakeholders have urged government to prioritise  and step up funding for child protection to ensure their proper upbringing.

A report on budget analysis for child protection by the Child Fund Uganda and the Africhild Centre of Makerere University released on Tuesday indicated that the allocation and public spending on child protection, for the past five financial years has been low and characterized by a fluctuating trend which has greatly hampered government’s commitment to implement child protection policy requirements and standards.

The analysis indicated that  government budgets between the financial years 2017/18 and 2021/22 for the youth and children affairs have gone down by 29.2% to shs1.855 billion.

“ The national budget has substantially grown over the review period, but the proportional allocation of the budget to child protection as a percentage of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development budget indicates a decreasing trend while its share in the national budget has been oscillating at between 0.01% and 0.02%,” the analysis indicated.

“ Analysis of variance in the releases and expenditure on child protection depicts a sector that has experienced a mix of both surplus and a deficit budget over the past five  fiscal years. Results of this analysis have revealed that whereas child protection is identified among the priorities, is yet to be allocated adequate funds for implementation of child protection interventions. “

The report however noted that something ought to be done to change this state of affairs.

“Both  political and technical leaders across all districts need to be sensitized to have a shared meaning about child protection, enable them develop an appreciation about the importance of child protection, and institute mechanisms for intensive lobbying to have child protection included among the priorities that need an increase in government budget allocation”

Commenting about the analysis,  the Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi emphasized the need for political will .

“There is need for political will from government. Even if Parliament increased funding towards the children's sector but without the political will of the executive, it will not work. We need to find a source funding so that children can be able to have quality education, as clearly stated in the education policy,” Opendi said.

"There can be a tax levied on every Ugandan to ensure that we provide quality education and children are wholly protected because we continue to see children languishing on various streets of cities instead of being at school.”

Timothy Opobo the Executive Director of  the Africhild Center Uganda said there is  need to have revision in the funds allocated to the  Child and Family  Protection unit of Police, Probation office and others so that they can have enough logistical support to carry out their roles.

"The recent Police crime report indicated that over 14000 children were defiled and  we see a lot of physical violence, high school dropout rates , children on streets. Unfortunately over the last five years the government has injected less than one percent of the national budget,”Opobo said.

He asked the government to think about doubling the current budget allocation to the children sector so that all structures carrying out the duty of protection of children's rights play their roles.

Moses Otai, the Country Director for Child Fund Uganda noted that lack of funding has seen efforts to ensure promotion of rights for children stall.

"Many children have not returned to school yet it is their right. We are looking at how do we invest in actions that protect children within the family environment, on their way to school and in the school environment. Through our actions we can put to stop all the things interfering with the children's rights."

He noted that deficiency in funding to the child protection structures has greatly hampered the level of response to child protection risks and the level of support that victims get for their wellbeing.

“Many have not been able to receive any form of justice due to the lack of funding to facilitate the different processes it takes.”