Authorities in Ibanda District have expressed concern over the increasing number of street children in Ibanda Town, blaming the trend largely on domestic violence, family instability, and weak community structures.
The Ibanda Resident District Commissioner, Godfrey Mbetegyerize, said the number of children living and surviving on the streets has grown significantly in recent months, raising alarm among both leaders and residents.
He noted that many of the affected children are fleeing homes marked by violence, neglect, and persistent domestic conflict, leaving them with no safe environment to stay in.
“Street children are now many in Ibanda Town, and this is largely due to domestic violence in families,” Mbetegyerize said.
According to him, breakdowns in local leadership and enforcement at the community level have also worsened the situation, allowing vulnerable children to slip through social protection systems.
“The negligence of some local council leaders has also contributed to the increase in children ending up on the streets,” he added.
Mbetegyerize emphasized that the issue cannot be resolved by security agencies alone, stressing the need for a coordinated community response involving local leaders, parents, and child protection actors.
“We call upon all citizens to work with security agencies to help in identifying and handling the issue of street children,” he urged.
He further called on local councils to take a more proactive role in identifying troubled households early and intervening before children are pushed out of their homes.
Local leaders and child welfare advocates in Ibanda have echoed the RDC’s concerns, saying the growing number of street children is a symptom of deeper social challenges, particularly domestic violence, poverty, and weakening family structures.
They argue that sustainable solutions must go beyond removing children from the streets and instead focus on addressing the root causes pushing them out of their homes.
Child welfare actors have also called for strengthened social protection systems, improved community policing, and increased public awareness campaigns to prevent family breakdown and protect vulnerable children.
Authorities maintain that without urgent and coordinated intervention, the number of street children in Ibanda Town is likely to continue rising, posing long-term social and security challenges for the district.
