Margaret Abura, the head teacher of Lotome Girls Primary School, mentioned that the school has children under the age of five, and they are struggling to cater to them. Abura explained that these younger children are often mixed with those above six years old, which disrupts the learning process.
Robert Abia Owilli, the Napak Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, noted that in traditional African society, children were considered the responsibility of the entire community. However, this trend has changed, negatively impacting the children. He highlighted that high illiteracy levels and negative attitudes towards education have encouraged street life among children.
According to UCOBAC, the attempts by rural women to claim their rights have been mistakenly seen as a power struggle and lack of discipline by their men resulting in gender-based violence.
Geoffrey Onying, the UCOBAC project officer based in Napak district noted that the distorted social norms and harmful practices coupled with limited awareness of women's rights are factors that continue to disenfranchise women from realizing their land and property rights.
The children aged 5-15 years arrived in Napak on Thursday and were taken to two primary schools that were selected by the district authorities. The children are expected to stay at school for one year without reporting back to their homes or coming in contact with their parents.
Col. Bernard Tuhame, the 3rd Division Operations, and Training Officer said training is an integral part of the force’s doctrine and the culture through, which discipline and professional standards are achieved.
In June 2022, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development revealed that over 90 percent of the children come from Napak District in North Eastern Uganda in the Karamoja sub-region, which is over 500kms from Kampala.
Over 260 children were rescued from the streets of Kampala on 1st August 2022 and taken to the Center by government and Non-Government Organizations-NGOs traced for their families.
Maria is among the teenage girls and young adults who were rescued from Kampala streets in April this year and taken to the center for rehabilitation and skilling.
One of the social workers at Koblin, Jimmy Olipa told URN that when the children arrived in the night, 17 girls broke loose and fled through a section of the fence, which had collapsed.
Museveni heard from the 3rd Division Commander Big General Joseph Balikuddembe, that some political and clan leaders in Karamoja are engaged in the sale of guns to facilitate cattle rustling and blocking justice hence hindering efforts by the government to pacify the region.
Micheal Longole, the Karamoja regional police Spokesperson confirmed the exchange saying the warriors were heading for a raiding mission in Lokopo. “As they were entering to drive animals out of the Kraal, our troops were prepared properly and engaged them," he said.
In August, Phillip Lomongin, the LCI Chairperson of Kanayete Village in Kotido Sub County reported a defilement case involving a six-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy to the police at Lokitelaebu.
Janet Akwang, the Project Manager of Child Protection with Cooperation and Development, an organization dealing with issues of Street children in Karamoja observes a need to apprehend people aiding street life in the suburbs of Kisenyi and Katwe in Kampala City, where most of the children go, as soon as they arrive in Kampala.
Thirteen children aged between 5 to 15 years had been intercepted from Arapai Market in Soroti aboard a taxi registration number UBB 455D. Later, three parents were arrested by police and charged with aggravated human trafficking.
