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Shift Media News 
BY NATHAN KIRAGGA
KAMPALA, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA NEWS| Children’s rights continued to be violated amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, reports emerging across the country have revealed.
The revelations were echoed during a video conference held by children from across various regions aged between7-17 years.
The children who were categorised basing on different educational levels called for government intervention in the protection of their rights.
Children, especially from the eastern districts of Uganda, complained about the continued sexual harassment as many have been raped, impregnated and infected with Aids as they try to go and look for food to survive.
Nanseera Resty 14 a resident of Bwaise narrated how many of the parents who had gone to work were arrested for defying curfew time leaving children home alone as sole bread winners.
This, according to Nanseera has prompted many children to resort to working in the scrap business, stone quarry among others which puts their lives in danger.
She called upon government and stakeholders to join hands in the protection of children’s welfare other than concentration unto only covid19.
Lokoth mike from Moroto also complained about the reading material which is scarce and hardly available.
” How can I tell a parent struggling to get 500/= for silverfish to give me 2000/=daily to buy newspapers with study materials!!? Exclaimed by one of the students.
This conference was organized by Somero-Uganda which strives to bridge the gap between students and stakeholders to ensure proper protection of their rights.
This comes as Uganda joins the rest of the world in celebrating international day against child labour.
Geoffrey Nsubuga the Executive Director Somero-Uganda said that this measure is aimed at bringing concerns of children so that they live better lives.
He allayed fears over continued sexual harassment of children especially in boarder districts and thus called for quick government intervention to protect the future generations.
He applauded participants who have exhibited bravery in voicing out their concerns.
He says that this conference was one of the measures set up in celebrating international day against child labour that was marked on 12th June 2020.
“It is quite absurd to see that child labour is at its peak following tough measures of Covid 19 and if not quickly dealt with, many students are likely not to continue with studies due to various circumstances, many girls have been forced into marriage by parents to get food, high levels of incest, continued gender-based violence which affects children psychologically among others” Nsubuga added.
He called upon government and other stakeholders to join hands in protecting children’s rights as its a responsibility of everyone to see children progressing.
Nsubuga applauded members from Hoima, Masaka, Nakapiripiriti, Moroto, Jinja, Iganga, Kabale and all districts that took part in such conferences to echo out the cries of children.
