Effect of COVID-19 response in Uganda on street children

Abstract

The unprecedented novel Coronavirus disease, COVID-19, which emerged in December 2019 has been labeled “disease X” by the World Health Organization (WHO) based on its rate and extent of spread as well as harsh ramifications. In response, different nations have adopted different management approaches hinging on various considerations, among them the WHO recommendations. Uganda has incorporated lockdowns, a measure that has affected schools, hospitals, businesses, places of worship, markets, public transport, and a rise in abuse of human rights in the form of police brutality, and domestic violence [1]. However, contextual factors such as socioeconomic realities and poverty pose a different set of problems for the mitigation and suppression of efforts for COVID-19, especially for vulnerable populations. Eventually, the effects of these interventions pitch down to individual citizens but invariably disproportionately affect vulnerable populations such as street children. This commentary examines the effects of mitigation efforts of COVID-19 on street children who roam the streets of Ugandan cities and whose plight barely gets on the research as well as policy agenda [2]. This paper also draws parallels with similar stories from street children in a few other African countries.