Parliament

Destitute children will not leave the streets of Kampala anytime soon, because members of Parliament have failed to agree on how to have them resettled.

In a heated debate on Wednesday, legislators had conflicting ideas on how the government should tackle the resettlement of the Karimojong children on the streets of Kampala and other towns.

The majority of the Karimojong children in the streets are victims of insecurity resulting from cattle rustling.

"The only way to go is by having us (MPs) adopt these children," the legislator for Makindye West, Mr Hussein Kyanjo said, adding: " I already have some under my care, so I urge you to do the same and this problem will be gone.

The chairperson of the Committee on Gender, Ms Beatrice Lagada (Woman MP Oyam , NRM), who presented the report showing the dire condition of Karimoja children, said centres for children should be established to solve the problem.

Bunyole County MP Emmanuel Dombo argued that the Karimajong children on the streets of major towns should be resettled where they are as opposed to arguments that they should be resettled in Karamoja.

Teach morals

The MP for Rubaga North, Ms Beti Kamya said Karimojong children and those in the north who have been affected by the 20-year old war should first be given religious studies to shape their morals and values.

"Leaving the children on the street just to grow like that without teaching them religion will be a big disaster one day," Ms Kamya said.

Ms Susan Nampijja Lukyamuzi, (Rubaga South,CP) said NGOs working with children should be investigated so as to establish why there is an influx of Karamojong children in Kampala.