The Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) enforcement team alongside probation and social welfare officers embarked on an operation that resulted to the arrest of 18 adults who are suspected of using minors to beg on various streets of Kampala.
According to the KCCA spokesperson, Daniel NuweAbine, during the ongoing operation they managed to rescue over 157 children.
The operation was in line with the implementation of the Kampala city child protection ordinance of 2022, that aims at combating child abuse, street begging and trafficking.
NuweAbine warned that most of the children had been trafficked from Eastern Uganda, while 22 others were brought in from different regions of the country.
This, he emphasized, violates the law, which regards the use of children for begging, hawking, or vending an offense. Anyone caught engaging in such activities faces a penalty of up to six months in prison or a fine of two currency points.
He also reminded the public that the ordinance prohibits giving money, food or clothing to street children, as such acts encourages children to remain on the streets.
He affirmed that as KCCA they are committed to continuously carry out such operations as part of the efforts to make Kampala city better.
