By Johnson Kanyesige
Security in Hoima City has Wednesday rescued a total of 50 children aged between 4 and 17 years, from a suspected human trafficker in Hoima city.
The Children originating from Kanyegarime in Nyairongo Kabwoya Sub County were found dumped at Bucunga Christian Nursery and Primary school in Hoima East division.
According to the school head teacher Priscilla Tukasingura, a one Pastor Mary Kaahwa from Kiganda cell in Hoima city approached the school authorities to give them orphanage children as the new term gets underway. She allegedly told them she has UGX200, 000 and some maize for now so that the children can be starting school however they told her to wait for the final word from the school director regarding accepting these children.
Before they could respond to her, at around 11am boda bodas started bringing children in groups of four until all the 50 of them arrived prompting the school authorities to alert police for intervention. She added that the suspected trafficker had told the parents that there is an organization that will sponsor the education of their children in town prompting the parents to give her the children.
Some of the children told Spice FM that they were told to pay sh UGX10, 000 for primary and UGX25, 000 for secondary and tertiary institutions per child promising them bursaries and sponsorships in City schools. However when they came they were first taken to several schools who rejected them and they ended up sleeping in a church on Tuesday evening.
Some of the affected parents revealed Pastor Mary told them she has a school where she will educate their children and she has already secured a sponsor for them however they were shocked to learn that their children are wandering in the streets of Hoima prompting them to come to the rescue of their children.
Badru Mugabi the Hoima RCC and the head of Hoima City security committee says investigations are underway to ascertain the motives behind ferrying these children from their homes and how they ended up sleeping in one of the local churches before they were dumped in Hoima East division warning parents to be aware of the increasing cases of human trafficking.
