Four young girls who went
missing from Nakawanga A and Nakawanga B villages in Kikenene parish in
Kissekka sub-county in Lwengo district on Wednesday last week have been found.
Two of the girls -Titi Lunkuse,10, and Amina Nakavuma,12, were found
stranded in Kinoni town in Lwengo on Friday while Patience Nambarire13, and
Rita Namboggo13, were found stranded in Nyendo town in Masaka City on
Sunday.
Muhammad Nsubuga, the Masaka Regional Police spokesperson,
says that they returned the girls to their homes after recording their
statements. He says that they are not treating the matter as a case of child
trafficking since the girls have been planning for some time to leave their
homes and work as maids or shop attendants in Kinoni and Masaka city.
He appealed to parents to be vigilant and watch over their
children and under the character of their friends. Perusi Nakayenga says that
she is happy her daughter Nambalire was found and returned home. She says
that they are still wondering why Nambalire choose to disappear from home yet
they were on good terms.
//Cue in: “Babaje mu nyendo…………….
Cue out:…………..nga tukaanya burungi.”//
According to Ronald Ssensaalu, his daughter Nambogo is
naughty and could have been the mastermind of the disappearance plan. He
explains that he will not punish her but sit her down and counsel her, arguing
that currently girls need to be advised since they are not in school due to the
lockdown.
//Cue in: “Babaje mu nyendo…………….
Cue out:…………..nga tukaanya burungi.”//
In the meantime, Paul Nkuke and Richard Ssensambu, the LC I
Chairperson of Nakawanga A and Nakawanga B village respectively are
planning a joint meeting with the families of the four girls to try and forge a
way forward. According to Ssensambu, Nakavuma intimated to him that her three
colleagues persuaded her to join them on the quest for new life since they are
no longer in school due to the lockdown.
//Cue in: “Kwegamba mumaka…………
Cue out:…………..okusooka katuburire.”//
Patrick Asiimwe, the Officer in Charge of the Child and
Family Protection Unit in Lwengo district, says the four children are now safe
in the hands of their parents. He says
that they will be monitoring the girls from their homes in collaboration with
local leaders and parents to ensure that they settle.
Davis Buyondo
Freelancer