By CHRISTINE

The Fort Portal City Probation Office has launched an operation to curb the growing number of street children in the city, citing poverty and domestic violence as the major causes of the emerging problem.

For several years, Fort Portal City had maintained a good record of having no children living or working on the streets. However, recent reports indicate a gradual increase in the number of minors found loitering and selling food items such as tomatoes, onions, beans, and peas in the city.

Speaking to our reporter on Wednesday at her office in Booma, the City Probation Officer, Grace Mary Mbabazi, expressed concern over the trend and revealed that her office, in collaboration with law enforcement officers, has embarked on an operation to identify and rescue children living on the streets and reunite them with their families.

She noted that most of these children come from families struggling with poverty and domestic violencefactors that push them into the streets to fend for themselves or support their households.

Mbabazi further explained that her office had previously engaged parents in community meetings to sensitize them about the dangers of child labour. The initiative initially yielded positive results, but due to persistent poverty, some parents have resumed sending their children to sell items in markets and on the streets.

On the issue of enforcement, Mbabazi clarified that while the law provides for the arrest of parents who exploit their children, authorities have chosen a rehabilitative approach rather than punitive measures to avoid inflicting further hardship on families.

She urged parents to work hard to overcome poverty and avoid domestic conflicts that expose children to vulnerability.

According to Article 34(4) of the Constitution of Uganda, children are entitled to protection from social and economic exploitation and should not be employed in work that is harmful to their health, education, or development.

Mbabazi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of all children in Fort Portal City and beyond, emphasizing that early intervention is key to preventing street life from taking root.