Children Evicted from Nakawa/Naguru Estates
Children are usually the most vulnerable when it comes to any kind of catastrophe. At the Nakawa/Naguru estates evictions yesterday, I walked around documenting these little innocent faces that didn’t deserve to go through such traumatizing moments. Some of them had just woken up, others, stopped from going to school just so they don’t come back home to find debris.
A child cries moments after witnessing a grader break down their home in Naguru on July 4, 2011. The eviction, Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) says will pave way for the redevelopment of the area (Naguru/Nakawa estates) into a modern Satelite town.
A grader breaks down a house at the Nakawa Housing Estate on July 4, 2011. The eviction, Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) says will pave way for the redevelopment of the area (Naguru/Nakawa estates) into a modern Satelite town.
Pius Lubangakene, a primary four pupil of Noble Junior School was instructed by his parents not to go to school to prepare for the eventuality that they are evicted. Here, he sits among their property after their house was run down by a grader on July 4, 2011. Asked where he would go now that they were forcefully evicted, Pius said, “I don’t know”.
The sorrow was felt even amongst the little ones. This girl could not hold back her tears after witnessing their house run over by a grader on July 4, 2011. The eviction, Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) says will pave way for the redevelopment of the area (Naguru/Nakawa estates) into a modern Satelite town.
HELPLESS: A boy helpless watch their house being erased by a grader on July 4, 2011.He, like a host of other children did not go to school in preparation for the event that they are evicted. The eviction, Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) says will pave way for the redevelopment of the area (Naguru/Nakawa estates) into a modern Satelite town.
I got this little school boy in his full uniforms sitting right in front of their house as his elders run up and down the house clearing their property before the house is broken down on July 4, 2011. He looked confused, probably wondering what was happening. He too, did not go to school.
DISPLACED: A girl flips through pages of a book at their compound after their house was broken down on July 4, 2011. The eviction, Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) says will pave way for the redevelopment of the area (Naguru/Nakawa estates) into a modern Satelite town.
As her parents ferried items out of the house, this little girl was busy playing with a motor bike tyre besides the verandah. Of all the children I photographed, she seemed the happiest, not minding whatever was happening around her. Her name is Achan.
HELPLESS: A boy helpless watch their house being erased by a grader on July 4, 2011.He, like a host of other children did not go to school in preparation for the event that they are evicted. The eviction, Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) says will pave way for the redevelopment of the area (Naguru/Nakawa estates) into a modern Satelite town.
Edward Echwalu - Documentary Photographer 
man this is a great job just keep the professional buyin
This was honorable act KCCA needed to prepare for them some where they could occupy God have mercy on Uganda
leaving people stranded most especially children was completely inhuman and disgusting. Kcc should have first sought ahome for them before carrying out this act of breaking down their only homes. Shame on you uganda
We have housed a young person made homeless by this selfish action at our Chrysalis Centre. He is a student at the Naguru Infants School, which soon also faces demolition. One cannot even imagine the social impact of removing this school, a shining light in Kampala, from its community.
These are so touching! Terrifyingly sad to see the contrast between western life and the lives of these families.
There is something so powerful about the word “erased” that you used in describing the destruction of these children’s houses. What a horrible thing to happen to anybody anywhere.
Beautiful images!
Hi there! This blog post could not be written any better!
Looking through this post reminds me of my previous
roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I am going
to forward this article to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a very good read. I appreciate you for sharing!