FAQ
Below are answers to frequently asked questions.
We would also be happy to answer your questions. Simply use the contact form below.
The information is based on information provided by the founders of the Lights Masaka Foundation in Uganda and supplementary research by Lights e.V. The content does not claim to be scientifically complete or guaranteed to be up to date. Some background research was conducted using publicly available sources and supporting AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT). All available sources are listed at the end of each answer.
Question: Is there no government support for homeless children in Uganda, even though Uganda has signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child? There are few comprehensive government support systems for homeless children in Uganda. If a child is picked up on the street and taken to the police, the focus is usually on returning them to their family. The Ugandan government focuses more on assistance such as health care, vaccination programs, and primary education for children. The issue of homelessness, on the other hand, is largely associated with many social stigmas: children who live on the streets are often considered “criminals” or “failures,” which makes their social reintegration even more difficult. This is where the Lights Masaka Foundation comes in – it is working to change social awareness. Through stories and encounters with formerly homeless children who now lead self-determined, financially independent lives, it is made clear that every child has potential if they experience protection, education, and trust. Comparison with Germany: In Germany, the protection of children is comprehensively regulated by law. The state's responsibility for the welfare of children is enshrined in the Basic Law (Art. 1 & 2, Art. 6 (2)) and in Social Code VIII (Child and Youth Welfare). Youth welfare offices, social services, and a close-knit support system ensure that minors do not have to live on the streets. State authorities intervene as soon as the welfare of a child is at risk. Further reports and literature: • https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09075682221111782 • UNICEF Uganda (2022): Child Protection Annual Report. • The Daily Monitor (2023): Report on unlicensed children's homes in Uganda. •Bantebya Kyomuhendo, G. (2014): The Child and the Street: A Study of Street Children in Uganda. Makerere University Press. • Tuck, E. & Yang, K. W. (2012): Decolonization is not a Metaphor. Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education & Society.
Why do children become homeless in Uganda? Children in Uganda become homeless for a variety of interrelated reasons. Extreme poverty, family conflicts, violence, abuse, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and the loss of parents are among the main causes. Many children flee their families because they experience physical or psychological violence, neglect, or sexual abuse. Others lose their parents to HIV/AIDS, malaria, accidents, or other diseases—and are then rejected or even cast out by relatives, especially step-parents. Many of these children live in homelessness, especially in Ugandan cities such as Masaka, Kampala, and Jinja. In some cases, this is because families from rural areas have moved there and are unable to find a good livelihood in the city. As a result, they end up in informal work, begging, or street trading, often accompanied by alcohol consumption, drug addiction, or criminalization, in order to ensure their daily survival. According to estimates by UNICEF (2022) and the Consortium for Street Children (2023), between 10,000 and 15,000 children live in temporary or permanent homelessness – exact figures are not available as there is no central reporting system and many children live in hidden homelessness, e.g., on construction sites, markets, or in slums. Comparison with Germany: In Germany, a comprehensive social welfare and child protection system prevents minors from having to live on the streets permanently. According to Social Code VIII (§§ 1, 8a, 42) and the Basic Law (Art. 1 & 6), the state is obliged to protect children from neglect and homelessness. Youth welfare offices, child protection agencies, and social services intervene at an early stage when the welfare of a child is at risk. Children and young people have a legally guaranteed right to accommodation, protection, education, and medical care. Sources and further reading • UNICEF Uganda (2022): Child Protection Annual Report. Kampala. • Consortium for Street Children (2023): Street Children in Uganda – Situational Analysis. • The Daily Monitor (2023): Reports on unregistered children's homes in Uganda. • Nabirye, J. (2020): Decolonising Child Protection in Uganda. Makerere University. • Tuck, E. & Yang, K. W. (2012): Decolonization is not a Metaphor. Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education & Society. • Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS, 2021): National Population and Housing Report. • Street Child Project (2021): Voices from the Streets: Understanding the Lives of Homeless Children in Uganda.
Why don't homeless children attend public elementary schools, which are officially free in Uganda? Although primary education in Uganda is officially free (as part of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program introduced in 1997), in practice there are costs that make it almost impossible for children from poor or homeless families to attend school. Schools continue to charge fees for exams, food, school uniforms, learning materials, building maintenance, or additional teachers, as government funding is often insufficient. According to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report (2022), Uganda has a ratio of over 45 students per teacher, well above the recommended limit, and many public schools are underfunded and overcrowded. In addition, the stigmatization of street children means that schools often do not accept them or quickly exclude them, especially if they do not have a school uniform or regular meals. The lack of birth certificates or official guardianship also makes it difficult for them to enroll in school. In addition, many homeless children are not immediately able to cope with everyday school life emotionally and socially: they suffer from trauma, sleep deprivation, malnutrition, or a lack of concentration—factors that make school attendance difficult without targeted psychosocial support and preparation. Sources and references: • UNESCO (2022): Global Education Monitoring Report – Non-State Actors in Education: Who Chooses? Who Loses? Paris. • World Bank (2023): Uganda Education Public Expenditure Review. Washington, D.C. • UNICEF Uganda (2022): Education and Child Protection Overview. Kampala. • Ministry of Education and Sports Uganda (2021): Education Statistical Abstract. Kampala. • Consortium for Street Children (2023): Street Children in Uganda – Situational Analysis.