The Kampala Capital City Authority has intensified operations against street begging involving children and sick people, saying the alarming trend has turned some of Kampala’s busiest streets into centres of exploitation and human suffering. City authorities say vulnerable people are increasingly being used to collect sympathy money from the public instead of receiving proper care and protection.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre, KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki expressed concern over cases where critically ill patients are allegedly removed from hospitals and displayed on streets to attract donations from motorists and pedestrians.
Buzeki warned that exposing sick people to dust, rain, heat and dangerous traffic conditions puts their lives at even greater risk. She said the city authority views the practice as both a public health threat and a violation of human dignity, adding that Kampala cannot allow vulnerable citizens to be reduced to street attractions.
The KCCA boss revealed that enforcement teams have already begun rescuing affected individuals from different parts of the city and transporting them to government health facilities and rehabilitation centres for medical attention and support. She added that caregivers found using children and patients for begging activities would face arrest and prosecution.
She further appealed to the public to stop giving money directly to street beggars, especially children, saying such actions unknowingly fuel exploitation networks and encourage families to keep children out of school. According to her, the continued flow of street donations has become one of the biggest reasons many children remain trapped in begging cycles.
Buzeki encouraged well-wishers to instead support recognised institutions such as Masulita Rehabilitation Centre, where rescued children and vulnerable individuals can receive food, shelter, counselling, healthcare and education opportunities. She noted that several children rescued during earlier operations have already been successfully reintegrated into schools.
The crackdown forms part of KCCA’s broader city enforcement campaign launched in February 2026 to restore order and improve public spaces across Kampala. Authorities have been clearing illegal vendors, decongesting roads and reopening blocked pedestrian walkways in the central business district and surrounding divisions.
KCCA says the operations have already improved movement and cleanliness along key roads including Luwum Street, Namirembe Road, Ben Kiwanuka Street, Nakasero Road and Allen Road. Buzeki urged city residents, traders and motorists to cooperate with the ongoing interventions, saying Kampala’s transformation into a safer and more organised capital requires collective effort from all citizens.
