Influx of street children blamed on parents

Negligence by parents has been blamed for contributing towards the influx of children on streets.

During a training for parents, police, religious leaders, and local leaders to align responsibility for the right treatment of children to keep them safe and content with what is provided at home, the  National Child Authority led by Martin Kiiza blamed parents.

"Most of the parents in the region have neglected their children and that's why children have been running to the streets." Martin Kiiza said.

He pointed out that the fathers are particularly the absent ones yet they should be the ones holding the families together and providing for the children.

The probation social welfare officer in charge of the industrial city division, Sarah Kalinda said in Mbale city, children between five and  17  years are always on the streets engaging in child labour.

"There is a lot of domestic violence in homes and the children tend to always turn out as victims ending up on the streets to escape the trauma back home. "

She noted that parents have forgotten their roles as  protectors and protecting them from harm including running away from home.

Kiiza called upon parents to refocus and redirect their energy towards protecting and providing for their children including sitting them down to talk about what is bothering them to create a strong bond between them .

"Parents should make use of the free education and take kids to school but better still, avail food for these children because hunger is among the reasons that push them to the streets."

With an estimate of 25,000 children on the streets in Uganda, there are 10,000 in Kampala and 5000 in Mbale City.