EXPOSING CHILD EXPLOITATION IN UGANDA’S POLITICS: WHO WILL PROTECT OUR CHILDREN?

In a shocking and deeply disturbing display of political desperation, Uganda’s ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), paraded the young daughter of the late Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya (RIP) at a political rally during the recently concluded Kawempe North by-election. This shameless act, orchestrated by none other than the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, was a blatant attempt to manipulate voters by using a vulnerable child as a political tool.

WHERE ARE THE CHILD RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS?

Uganda has numerous organizations that claim to stand for children’s rights, yet none have come out strongly to condemn this outright exploitation. Where is UNICEF Uganda? Where is the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development? Why has no serious child protection agency called out the NRM for weaponizing a grieving child for political gain?

THE DISTURBING HISTORY OF CHILD EXPLOITATION UNDER MUSEVENI’S REGIME

This is not the first time Uganda’s children have been used as pawns in political schemes. History painfully reminds us of how Yoweri Museveni, during his bush war, recruited child soldiers to fight his battles. Many of those children grew up traumatized, stripped of their innocence, and left to navigate life with scars—both physical and emotional. Decades later, the same regime is now parading children at rallies, proving that Uganda’s children continue to be nothing more than bargaining chips for political survival.

WHERE IS THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION?

It is ironic, yet not surprising, that Uganda’s Ministry of Education—headed by Janet Kataaha Museveni—has remained completely silent. If a child is being dragged into political affairs instead of being in school, shouldn’t this be a national emergency? Shouldn’t the Ministry be investigating and holding those responsible accountable? Or is this yet another case of silence being bought at the expense of Uganda’s most vulnerable citizens?

THE LEGALITY OF CHILD POLITICAL EXPLOITATION

Uganda is a signatory to multiple international conventions on child protection, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The Ugandan Constitution and the Children’s Act also explicitly prohibit the exploitation of children for political purposes. So, why is the government itself violating these laws? Where is the international community in all this? Why is the world watching in silence while Ugandan children are being dragged into political theatre?

QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERS

Hon. Prime Minister Nabbanja, why did you think it was acceptable to parade a child at a political rally?

NRM, how low will you go in your desperation to cling to power?

Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, are you even aware of this? If so, why are you silent?

Uganda Human Rights Commission, do children’s rights not matter to you?

To the mother of this child, why would you allow your daughter to be exploited in such a manner? What pressures were you under?

UGANDANS MUST SPEAK OUT!

This is not just about one child. This is about the continuous pattern of child exploitation in Uganda’s political landscape. If we don’t speak out now, more children will be used, manipulated, and discarded when their political usefulness runs out.

JOIN THE CALL FOR JUSTICE!

The world must wake up to this blatant abuse of children’s rights in Uganda. We call upon all human rights organizations, child protection agencies, and the international community to demand accountability NOW.