Speaking during the launch of the National Coalition to End Child Poverty, young people voiced their concerns about the current state of education, healthcare, and opportunities for talent development.
Children
have asked the government to prioritize better social services and the
promotion of talent as a solution to poverty.
Speaking during the launch of the National Coalition to End Child Poverty,
young people voiced their concerns about the current state of education,
healthcare, and opportunities for talent development.
The children highlighted how inadequate access to quality education and
healthcare has exacerbated poverty levels, particularly in rural areas. Many of
them emphasized that without better support systems, children are left
vulnerable, and unable to achieve their full potential.
“We need more schools, and those schools should be equipped with proper
learning materials,” said Ainembabazi Mugarura, a student at Mengo Senior School.
“Our health centres are not functioning well, and sometimes children miss
school because they can’t get proper medical attention.”
According to the 2024 UBOS Multidimensional Child Poverty Report, nearly half
(44%) of children in Uganda are living in poverty, lacking access to essential
needs such as food, water, shelter, education, and healthcare. The report also
highlights that in households with three or more children, the child poverty
rate rises to 57 percent.
John Vianney Kato, a
member of the Children’s Reference Group in Kampala, emphasized that providing
quality education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty for children from
impoverished households.
"If the
government ensures quality education, there's a high chance to transform the
future of these children," he said. However, he warned that if this isn't
prioritized, poverty will likely persist across generations.
Kato acknowledged the
government's efforts to provide universal primary and secondary education but
noted that many families facing multidimensional poverty still struggle to
afford the associated costs. As a result, many children drop out before
completing primary school.
"Education is
not as free as it's claimed to be. In addition to being free, the quality of
education must be consistent across both urban and rural areas to ensure true
equity," Kato stressed.
Innocent
Oketh, a pupil at Kasubi Church of Uganda primary school, pointed out that the
severe lack of necessities often forces children into various vices as they
struggle to survive. To the amusement of the audience, he described how young
girls are exploited by different individuals, while boys often turn to
delinquency.
Beyond social services, the children also stressed the importance of nurturing
their talents. Many argued that promoting skills such as sports, music, and
arts could provide an alternative pathway out of poverty.
Oketh called on the government to create platforms where children could
showcase and develop their talents. “If the government invested in supporting
young people with talent and vocational skills, we could change our lives and
even our communities,” he added.
Mondo Kyateka, Assistant Commissioner for Youth and Children Affairs at the
Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development, stressed that the concerns
raised by children cannot be ignored, as they highlight Uganda's future
challenges. He pointed out that children make up more than half of the
country’s population, with the most recent census indicating that 22.2 million
of Uganda’s 45.9 million people are children.
Kyateka
emphasized that addressing child poverty is essential for Uganda's progress. He
explained that effectively tackling this issue could allow the country to
benefit from its population dividend, but warned that failing to do so would
result in serious long-term consequences.
He
agreed that the best way to combat child poverty is by ensuring the government
provides adequate social services, giving children from poor families a chance
to succeed.
He noted that if a child, regardless of their background, receives
a quality education and related social services, it can transform their life
and help them reach their full potential.
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Betty Amongi, the Minister for Gender, Labor, and Social Development added
that, in addition to improving social services, the government is focusing on
boosting household incomes to ensure families have enough resources to support
themselves in all aspects of life.
Amongi emphasized that by tackling household poverty, the country can simultaneously
address child poverty, as families would then be in a better position to
provide for their children.
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Margarita Tileva, UNICEF's Deputy Resident Representative,
emphasized that Uganda has the opportunity to leverage existing data to
integrate child poverty into the National Development Plan Four, which is
currently in draft form.
The
National Coalition to End Child Poverty which was launched is an initiative led
by the government, specifically through the Minister of Gender, Labor, and
Social Development, along with other ministries and development partners like
UNICEF and ChildFund. This collaboration aims to adopt a multifaceted approach
to eliminate child poverty.
Catheline
Ntabadde, UNICEF spokesperson, stated that the coalition, leveraging its
expertise, will come together to seek viable solutions and mobilize communities
to address child poverty, which significantly impacts children's well-being,
growth, and development.
