KCCA Warns Against “Sick Street Beggers”

Kampala Capital City Authority has warned caregivers and members of the public against encouraging street begging, particularly involving sick individuals and children, saying the practice poses serious risks to health, safety, and human dignity.

Speaking to journalists at the government-owned media centre, the Executive Director of KCCA, Hajjat Sharifa Buzeki, said the authority is increasingly concerned about caregivers transporting visibly ill people from hospitals and placing them on city streets to solicit money from the public.

According to Buzeki, the practice not only endangers the lives of vulnerable individuals but also undermines ongoing public health and social protection efforts. “We are seeing people turned into what can only be described as medical beggars. Patients who should be receiving care in proper health facilities are instead being exposed to harsh conditions on the streets,” Buzeki said.

Buzeki noted that individuals found in such situations are being removed from the streets and taken to government health centres for proper medical care. However, she warned that caregivers responsible for exposing vulnerable people to such conditions risk prosecution.

The public was also urged to stop giving money directly to street beggars, especially children. According to Buzeki, such handouts contribute to keeping children out of school and exposing them to unsafe environments. “When you give money on the street, you may feel you are helping, but in reality, you are sustaining a harmful cycle. These children’s education, health, and safety are being compromised,” she said.

Residents have instead been encouraged to channel support through designated rehabilitation centres, where rescued individuals can access food, shelter, education, and other support services. Buzeki added that some children rescued from the streets have already been reintegrated into schools. She called on the public to cooperate with KCCA interventions aimed at protecting vulnerable people and improving their welfare.

Meanwhile, KCCA has also begun testing a new public bus transport system in Kampala as part of efforts to modernise urban transport and reduce congestion in the city. Buzeki said the initiative is being introduced gradually while incorporating feedback from key stakeholders and commuters. She noted that buses are not new to Kampala’s transport system and emphasized that the sector remains open to competition under a “free entry, free exit” model.

According to Buzeki, the pilot phase operating between the City Centre and Ntinda has already generated feedback, particularly regarding payment methods. While planners had initially proposed a card-based payment system requiring monthly reloading, early responses from commuters indicate a preference for mobile money payments, which she said will be considered before the full rollout.

The project is currently operating with eight electric buses, although the route is expected to eventually require about 60 buses. Buzeki explained that the phased rollout is intended to allow adjustments and consultations with stakeholders, including taxi operators. She added that the transition is part of Kampala’s natural urban evolution, comparing it to previous shifts from bicycles and smaller vehicles to the current 14-seater taxi system.

According to Buzeki, the introduction of higher-capacity buses could significantly ease traffic congestion and improve transport efficiency if widely adopted. She also addressed concerns about affordability, saying market forces would ultimately determine the success of the bus system. “If they are too expensive, people will not use them. Bus operators will also be subject to the same tax obligations as other transport providers,” Buzeki said.