Kampala — Fun and excitement filled Kisenyi Social Centre as street children received gifts on Christmas day.

Over 800 children and destitute young mothers, many of them from the Karimojong community, turned up for the party organised by Maureen Mwagale, a Ugandan based in the UK.

"This Christmas day celebration is to show the street children and destitutes that someone loves and cares for them," Mwagale said.

One of the Karimojong mothers, Akwonyi Chandiru, said it was a special day for her because she had had a nice meal.

Children received assorted clothes donated by Christians from St. Andrews Church and the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK.

Mwagale, under the umbrella organisation, Kaana, a Luganda word meaning baby, said she hopes to convince mothers to stop sending their children to the streets to beg.

"This was successful due to the support of my mother, Margaret Mabwa, who prepared food for all these people," Mwagale said.

The party was co-sponsored by firms, including the Vision Group of Companies, Worldwide Logistics and Ripples Company. Crown Beverages offered free drinks.