The money was earmarked by Hilton Foundation, an American-based organisation. The organisation says the money will help address issues affecting over 1000 marginalised and under-served communities including refugees and street children living in the five divisions of the Kampala Capital City.
According to the director of gender, community services, and production at KCCA, John Bosco Bashinyora, they have partnered with several local civil society organisations to implement the project.
He says the project includes among others; implementing the child rights audiences which were recently enacted by KCCA to ensure that the rights of children are protected.
The coordinator for the Local Coalition Accelerator, the organisation implementing the project, Naomi Ayot -Oyaro says the $500,000 they have acquired is targeted to help the marginalised communities in Kawempe, Nakawa, Makindye, Rubaga, and Kampala central division, ensuring refugees and street children are empowered.
Children on Kampala streets is challenge that has persisted over the years several efforts to come with solutions.
It is estimated that Kampala has about 15,000 street children aged between 7 and 16.
While some street children, especially from Karamoja sub-region, were pushed to city streets by poverty, others, especially those born in Kampala, found themselves on the streets because of domestic violence or loss of parents.
According to city authorities, at least 100 children are taken off the roads every month. President Yoweri Museveni's government plans to rehabilitate the street children and reintegrate them back into their family homes.