By Peter Abanabasazi

Following the closure of schools by government to contain the spread of covid-19, many children aged between 6 to 16 years have resorted to hawking food items on the streets of Kagadi town and other urban centers of the district creating worry among leaders.

This week, police arrested several children aged 6 to 14 years from Nyakashema cell in Ruteete town council after they were found them hawking goods on the streets of Kagadi town.
The children who are the pupils from Kitegwa P/S says after the closure of schools, they found village life hard and had decided to come to town for employment.

Eric Mukwasiibwe, a parent and resident of Kagdi town council says the lockdown has made many children unruly and others escape from their homes and go to work for money.
Mukwasiibwe and other parents have asked government to consider reopening of schools for the safety of their children.

Steven Banakora Kiyaga, the district probation officer has warned parents and employers to stop subjecting minors to child labor threatening to arrest them.
He says that child labor has increased cases of defilement and will lead to high school dropouts if schools reopen as children have already tasted the goodness of money.