Health Conditions Fuel Rise in Street Begging in Uganda

Olga Nassaali
4 Min Read

Patients Turn to Street Begging for Financial Survival

Many individuals with health afflictions face have resorted to exploiting their ailments for financial survival through street begging. This not only sheds light on the struggles these patients endure but also underscores broader societal issues linked to healthcare accessibility and population growth.




Some patients, grappling with physical disabilities such as cerebral paralysis, hydrocephalus, blindness, and various afflictions, have adopted street begging as a means of seeking financial assistance. These individuals employ diverse tactics, often hitting the streets early in the morning and travelling across districts, returning home only after accumulating substantial sums.




Their activities involve navigating door to door, approaching people in offices, markets, taxi parks, and shops. This trend is particularly prevalent in urban centres, with patients often accompanied by spouses or children, especially when facing visual or physical impairments.




Patients with physical disabilities and cerebral paralysis are frequently seen manoeuvring in wheelchairs, aided by megaphones broadcasting pre-recorded messages in the local language to overcome language barriers.

Ms. Fatuma Kwagala, a 35-year-old resident of Kinawambuzi Village, Bukaboli Sub-county in Mayuge District, candidly acknowledges relying on her ailment—a cheek tumor—for financial support. Despite seeking medical help at Mulago Hospital and CoRSU Hospital, where she was asked for Shs15m, financial constraints led her to the streets.

Collecting between Shs100,000 and Shs120,000 daily, Ms. Kwagala, a single mother of four, allocates the funds for food, saving up to Shs80,000 a day. Her struggles extend beyond personal health, as she recounts using savings intended for her own treatment to care for her stroke-afflicted mother.




Raymond, a 13-year-old pupil, narrates his experience of navigating Jinja City with his 15-year-old brother, confined to a wheelchair due to cerebral paralysis. Collecting funds to support their family, Raymond emphasizes the necessity of their efforts for survival after their father’s death and the family’s subsequent financial struggles.

Another case involves Ms. Madina Nabirye, a resident of Namutumba District, who lost both eyes in a domestic fight. Roaming towns with her two children, she collects funds to finance an eye operation and meet domestic needs, accumulating between Shs60,000 and Shs70,000 daily.

Experts weigh in on this alarming trend. Mr. Fred Muhumuza, Director of Makerere Business Forum, suggests that some patients may not desire recovery, while Dr. Francis Lokor, a senior consultant at Mulago Hospital, emphasizes the availability of free operations at Mulago and the importance of patients following through with appointments.




Prof. Frank Nabwiso, former Kagoma County MP, attributes the surge in street begging to uncontrolled population growth, drawing a comparison with the prosperity of smaller-populated countries like France.

In a background context, a previous report highlighted a couple from Nebbi District begging on Jinja streets to treat an 18-year-old tumor. After their story garnered attention, the couple received financial assistance, though subsequent reports revealed complications and disconnection of the husband’s number.

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Born and raised in the heart of Uganda, Olga developed a deep appreciation for the power of storytelling from a young age. Her curiosity about the world and its myriad complexities led her to pursue a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, graduating with honors from Makerere University. This was just the beginning of her journey into the world of news publishing.
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