Following numerous attempts to have no beggars on different streets around Kampala, Uganda lawmakers have passed a bill making it a misdemeanor to give out money, material goods, food or even a donation to any child on the streets.
The passed law is basically aimed at curbing down the commercial and sexual exploitation of children which has generally been through personal assistance from people giving an impression as helpers.
While commenting on this matter, Kampala Lord mayor, Erias Lukwago, explained that the passed law will penalize traffickers, agents and parents of the children found begging or selling items on the street. More so, persons who will be found victim of aiding or supporting child beggars in anyway will risk a jail term of up to six months or a fine of $11 (£9).
He further noted that the law was targeted at parents and agents who were “cashing in” on children.
“It’s now a lucrative business for some individuals who procure these kids from various parts of the country and bring them on to the streets of Kampala. It’s a business. We want to bring that to an end.”
The Ugandan government approximates that there are around 15, 000 children between the ages of 7 and 17 on the streets many navigating through traffic to sell items or beg.
Some of these and forced by their handlers to live in small rooms around and within the city’s slums.child street beggars are believed to be children who have been trafficked from rural areas
The new law will ban such substandard rentals which support sex work, begging or petty trade of children.
Older street beggars have been seen using children to accompany them in order to gain more sympathy from passers-by to give in financial help in terms of hard cash.
The law is currently limited to Kampala city where the vice is at its peak rather than the rest of the country.
Helping Child beggars could be harmful
Well as you might think that aiding or giving to the street beggars will help make their lives better, if only for a day or two, think again, especially when it comes to children.
You could possibly be perpetrating a crime. Giving to children can have plenty of other negative side effects. Consider these:
- Parents may see turning their children into street beggars as more lucrative than working out on the seemed to be hard paying jobs. This could start a cycle of exploitation with the children being the subject. Why send them to school if they can make more money begging?
- The more money you give, the greater the incentive for children to continue begging and stay out of school.
- It will encourage local children to see foreigners as viable support targets.
- Your gift will have no long-term benefit. It may be squandered or spent on such things as drugs instead of food or even facilitate crime.
- You’ll be paving the way for a new generation of beggars. If this is seen as a lucrative trade, there’s no reason not to join it.
- Some parents try hard to keep their children off the streets. By giving children money, you undermine the parents’ authority.
Furthermore, it is believed that most street beggars are linked to gangs, who drop them off in the morning and pick them up in the evening, taking away all the proceeds and holding the children hostage or imprisoned.
The money you give that little girl most probably won’t be spent by her – or on her.
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