Covid 19: NGOs with Aid to Children’s Homes To First Get Clearance From RDCs

Government has ordered all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or individuals who wish to provide support to the children’s homes and rehabilitation centres to first get clearance from Resident District Commissioner (RDC) or head of District COVID 19 Task Force.

In case of Government institutions (children’s homes and rehabilitation centres), the head of the institution shall get clearance from Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MGLSD)

The State Minister for youth and children affairs Hon Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi issued the orders on Monday at Uganda Media Centre.

There are over 6000 children residents in children’s homes and rehabilitation centres operated by Government and licensed NGOs.

These include 7 Government remand homes including Naguru, Kabale, Masindi, Fort Portal, Mbale, Gulu and Arua.

Naguru Reception Center and Kampiringisa national rehabilitation centers are managed by NGOs and Faith Based Organizations.

Minister Nakiwala also suspended activities such as joint prayer sessions, games/ sports, birthday celebrations in all children’s homes across the country and ordered all institutions to establish a COVID 19 Task Force to enforce the directives.

“Each institution shall establish a COVID 19 Task Force comprised of at least 3 people including one child of not less than 12 years from the institution,” she said.

“The Task Force shall enforce the following COVID 19 prevention and mitigation measures. Suspension of games and sports and other recreation activities that require close contact, suspension of joint prayer sessions/ services, suspension of all social events including birthday celebrations,” she ordered.

In other measures, all children brought to the institution for admission are to be screened by health workers, tested and confined in separate places for 14 days.

Provision of protective gear such as masks, gloves and gumboots to stuff interacting directly with the children is mandatory.

All activities involving taking juveniles to Court and tracing and resettlement in their families and communities are also suspended.