WESTNILE’S MULTIMILLION JUVENILE RECEPTION CENTRE FINALLY COMMISSIONED

The Japanese Ambassador and other dignitaries at the launch. Photo by Morish Dramadri.
By Morish Dramadri

Arua city

The West Nile regional juvenile reception center constructed by Save the Children with funding from the Japanese ministry of foreign affairs at the regional police headquarter in Arua city has finally been commissioned.

The multimillion project was contracted to “Self-building” investments limited on Friday September 8, 2023, and was expected to take 4 months but this later changed after additional components were added to the original architectural design.

Thiyagarajah Shanmugah Priyah, the deputy director for program development and quality department at “Save the Children” is optimistic that the facility will enhance the role of local government in child protection. “this is a facility for children who are survivors of abuse and in need of some proper care and protection as government seeks for a permanent solution for the children, It is our hope that this reception center will enhance the role of the local government in providing special protection and care for children faced with high risk of harm and abuse” she said.

The commissioner for children affairs at ministry of gender, labor and social development Fred Ngabirano however appealed for a long lasting sustainability strategy in the operationalization of the facility, “We need to agree on how we shall strategize on the relationship between the reception center and the remand home so that we sustain our reception center, it has to be operationalized but sustainability is not easy,” Ngabirano noted.

H.E Sasayama Takuya the Japanese ambassador to Uganda while commissioning the facility. Photo by Morish Dramadri.

H.E Sasayama Takuya the Japanese ambassador to Uganda revealed that child protection is a global concern prompting them to fund this project. “People may ask why Japan is supporting “Save the Children”; problem facing the young children affects everybody, together we need to find what the best solution is to the future of our treasure, the children,” H.E Sasayama disclosed.

Arua high court magistrate Paul Matiama welcomed the intervention of the partners in child protection in the region. “On daily basis, we had to handle cases related to children who are either trafficked or those against whom offences are committed, such intervention you bring in place are most welcome,” Matiema cheered.

Among the component of the facility include, office space, rooms for boys, girls and adults, 3 washrooms among others.