Luweero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Fire has gutted a house killing two children and their aunt at Binyonyi zone in Luweero town council. The deceased have been identified as Hasifah Nakafu (11), Aisha Namboowa (08) and their aunt Shamirah Kilemba aged 22 years. The children belonged to Hussein Ssewaka Junior …
Read More »Malawi tobacco pressured as US butts in over labour abuses
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | Malawi is being forced to confront child and forced labour practices after the US restricted tobacco imports from the impoverished southeastern African nation over allegations workers including children were being exploited. Although exports to the United States make up only a small part of Malawi’s total, …
Read More »Nine-year-old Belgian wonder kid set for university degree
Amsterdam, Netherlands | AFP | Like many other nine-year-olds, Laurent Simons likes TV and his pet dog. But he also wants to make artificial organs, and is about to get the qualifications to set him on his way. The Belgian boy will in December receive a degree in electrical engineering …
Read More »Activists call for measures to combat child neglect
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Rights activists have called for stringent measures to safeguard children against neglect. In Gulu, the number of children being neglected by their parents is on the raising concerns among the public and rights activists that local law enforcement authorities and police are failing to contain …
Read More »Experts blame unhealthy competition as schools resort to night prep for day scholars
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Education is proposing to have school time reduced from the current 8 am – 5pm to 3:30pm. The development comes after complaints by various stakeholders about children reporting to school very early and leaving late in the night. Henry Semakula who heads …
Read More »Nigerian pastor accused of abusing children who fled Boko Haram
Benin City, Nigeria | AFP | Deep in the tropical forest in southern Nigeria, an evangelical pastor runs a sprawling camp billed as a refuge for thousands of children who fled the Boko Haram jihadist insurgency in the north. Solomon Folorunsho, known as Pastor Solomon, says he is on a self-proclaimed …
Read More »Rights body decries appalling condition of children incarcerated with mothers
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Human Rights Commission – UHRC has noted with concern the appalling conditions of children imprisoned alongside their mothers in prison facilities across districts in Acholi and Lango sub regions. The Commission cites awful conditions that the children are enduring including congestion in the …
Read More »Nigerian pastor accused of abusing children who fled Boko Haram
Benin City, Nigeria | AFP | Deep in the tropical forest in southern Nigeria, an evangelical pastor runs a sprawling camp billed as a refuge for thousands of children who fled the Boko Haram jihadist insurgency in the north. Solomon Folorunsho, known as Pastor Solomon, says he is on a self-proclaimed …
Read More »Ministry of health surpasses measles-rubella immunization target
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More children were vaccinated in the concluded Measles-Rubella mass immunization campaign. While the ministry had planned to vaccinate 18 million children,the number surpassed to 20 million. The mismatch between the planned and actual number of children vaccinated has led to a disagreement between the ministry …
Read More »Countries urged to make ‘Digital World’ safer for children
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Rising Internet connectivity is making children vulnerable to sexual abuse, online harassment, bullying, recruitment by extremist groups, and other risks, according to a new report by the broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. The report, produced by the Commission’s working group on Child Online Safety, …
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