MICHAEL N
Rubaare Town Council Non-Skilled Workers, a group that brings together both street kids and Ghetto youths in Rubaare Town Council, have acknowledged their dissatisfaction with the government leaving them out of development programs like PDM and Emyooga.
Johnson Namara and Nuwahereza David, Ghetto youths in Kamwokya street in Rubaare, acknowledged that whenever they go to service centers like NIRA offices they are usually asked for money. On health, if one goes to Rubaare Health Center IV, it requires one to have a popular leader who can influence on their behalf to be treated or given medical attention. They urge government authorities to always include them in government programs since they own a group that brings them together.
Kennedy Atukwasa, also a Ghetto youth in Rubaare town, revealed that he studied driving skills but lacks money to fund getting a Driving Permit. He also cited that though most government services are free, they are usually asked to pay for such services like registration of IDs at NIRA offices.
Johnson Namara and Obed Niwonyine stressed their disappointment with the government, which brings programs that should be helping the needy to develop, but instead such programs and money are taken up by rich people and government officials. They acknowledged the reasons why they joined the streets, such as bad conditions at their homes, and therefore decided to go to town to hustle and sustain their livelihoods. They also portrayed that they are disciplined people, though some people take them as wrongdoers.
Speaking to Rowings Ankwasa, he revealed that as leaders, they started a group for the street kids and Ghetto youths known as “Rubaare Town Council Non-Skilled Workers Group” that helps educate them with different skills of welding, driving, among others, to keep them busy and transform their lives.
Ismail Kalyango, the chairperson of all Ghetto youths in Rubaare Town Council, has urged the government and authorities to at least utilize the empty rooms and houses in town by putting sewing machines and welding equipment so that unemployed youths can be trained with skills and kept busy.
Street kids and Ghetto youths are increasing in Rubaare Town due to the town’s rapid development, daily markets both in Rubaare and other towns near it like Omugyenyi, Rwentobo, Ntungamo and Kabale, plus the town itself being strategically located along the Mbarara – Kabale road.
