news 9 November 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)

Inside Mbarara City's Growing Street Gangs and Child Exploitation Networks

As Mbarara City develops rapidly, its nighttime streets are increasingly dominated by armed teenage gangs and vulnerable children occupying specific no-go zones. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/inside-mbarara-s-street-gangs-and-the-networks-exploiting-children-5663638

Since achieving city status in 2020, Mbarara has undergone rapid development, marked by bustling commercial activities and new infrastructure. However, this growth has a darker underside. When night falls, parts of the urban center undergo a drastic transformation, falling under the control of organized street children and teenage gangs.

Reports indicate that these groups occupy specific zones that have effectively turned into no-go areas for ordinary residents. Armed with machetes, knives, and other crude weapons, the teenage gang members use intimidation to rob passersby and protect their territories.

Beyond the immediate security threats, these street networks heavily exploit vulnerable children, drawing them into a cycle of crime and urban delinquency. Local authorities and community leaders face mounting pressure to address the root causes of child destitution and dismantle the criminal rings profiting from their exploitation.

As the city continues to expand economically, safeguarding public safety and protecting vulnerable minors remains a critical challenge for local law enforcement and social welfare agencies alike.