Uganda's Lost Generation
Half of Uganda’s population is under 15 years old (“Uganda: Homeless”). Children and young adults are the largest and most vulnerable demographic group in the streets of Uganda (“Uganda: Homeless”). How did these children end up neglected, away from their families, and on the streets? The significant factor is the spread of the incurable HIV across the country. The HIV epidemic removed an entire generation of caregivers in Uganda and lead to millions of children orphans who now live in extreme poverty. There are many shortcomings in the infrastructure which is needed to help this neglected population (Ministry). As a result, access to basic services and rights is a lifelong problem for most orphan children (Ministry).
One of the root causes of neglect and abuse is due to the absence of adequate governmental protection. Around 2.5 million children are living in orphanages in Uganda (Hayden). However, an estimated 90% of the orphanages operate without official licenses, meaning that they are not subject to the child protection policies proposed by the government (Hayden). Often times the orphanages take advantage of the children by exploiting them as props for fundraising instead of providing constructive support (Nianias). Additionally, about 36% of children in Uganda are forced into labor to support their elderly family members (Hayden). Child labor and exploitation stunt the overall development of many children by taking away the opportunity for secondary education. With minimal enforcement of child protection laws, officials and police are complicit in the abusive system and make children fearfully veer away from asking adults for help. It is difficult for the children to defend themselves against a system that harshly blames them for petty crimes they may not even have committed.
Being deprived of a childhood and living alone in poverty has consequences on children’s later adult lives (Ministry). Poverty persists to the next generation and when former orphans start their own families, their children face a bleak future as well (Ministry). Ongoing family poverty deprives future generations of their fundamental rights and physical and psychological development (Ministry). Another long term effect of abuse and poverty is poor mental health and lifelong trauma (“Uganda: Homeless”). Children who experience any sort of abuse early on in their lives are 10 times more likely to engage in criminal behavior and abuse others as well (Nianias). Moreover, children who begin their lives at an orphanage face suicide rates 500 times higher than their counterparts (Nianias).
Although children still face frequent roundups, arrests, and targeted corruption, many nonprofit organizations have begun considering beneficial changes for Uganda. The Human Rights Watch is pushing the Ugandan government to implement a new child protection system that grants street children the same legal and physical protection as their Ugandan counterparts (“Where Do You Want Us to Go?”). Amongst these rights are access to primary education and shelter guidance. However, many nonprofit organizations are barred from operating in Uganda, leaving street children to fend for themselves (Riley). For now, major changes to the streets of Uganda remain put on hold.
Works Cited:
Ministry Uganda, and Unicef Uganda. “Situation Analysis of Children in Uganda.” UNICEF, 2015, www.unicef.org/uganda/UNICEF_SitAn_7_2015_(Full_report).pdf.
Nianias, Helen. “No Hugs, No One to Talk to: How Ugandan Orphanages Are Harming a Generation | Helen Nianias.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 23 Nov. 2017, www.theguardian.com/working-in-development/2017/nov/23/ugandan-orphanages-harming-a-generation.
Riley, Mark. “Volunteers Are Fueling the Growth of Orphanages in Uganda. They Need to Stop.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 May 2016.
“Uganda: Homeless Children Face Violence, Exploitation.” Human Rights Watch, 23 June 2015, www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/16/uganda-homeless-children-face-violence-exploitation.
“‘Where Do You Want Us to Go?’ | Abuses against Street Children in Uganda.” Human Rights Watch, 16 June 2015, www.hrw.org/report/2014/07/17/where-do-you-want-us-go/abuses-against-street-children-uganda#.
I really liked your article, and the introduction really grabbed my attention. We live in a very wealthy community and just a few miles away it isn't uncommon to see a homeless person on the side of the street. Especially after reading your article, I understand that homelessness rates in our community don't nearly compare to the homelessness rates in Africa. How is the Ugandan government responding to this issue and the intervention of nonprofit organizations?
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