Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs believes seven-year-old rapper Patrick Ssenyonjo aka Fresh Kid could be a victim of drug abuse.
She says the government will have to examine Fresh Kid to find out whether he has not been subjected to drugs or whether his brain growth is not being affected by the stress of preparing for music shows.
“We have to examine the boy to see if he is ready to do such a business because such people may be under the influence of drugs which is dangerous. So that boy at that age cannot be able to tell what is right or wrong,” she said.
Ssenyonjo has rocked the music industry with great performances whenever called on to entertain revellers, but the minister says it is a breach of the Children Act and other regulations.
According to the Daily Monitor, Ms Nakiwala, who has come under criticism especially on social media platforms, said she was not against the boy and his talent but wants him not to be used to break the law.
“The law does not allow such a child to work or be employed for money because he cannot operate a bank account and cannot have a Tax Identification Number to pay taxes. So, until the law is amended, my hands are tied and I can only partner to counsel him and make sure he is in school,” Ms Nakiwala said.
Nakiwala stated that she wants to meet the rapper and his managers and parents and talk to them face to face, she also added that she wants to counsel the boy. Nakiwala believes managers of the artiste might be exploiting him for financial gain.
According to Fresh Kid’s manager, a one manager Francis, Fresh kid is too young to get involved into drugs adding that the minister is getting wrong information from jealous people.
“The minister is being served with wrong information by wrong elements who are jealous of Fresh Kid’s talent. The kid is too young to use these drugs,” he told this reporter in a phone interview.
Since Tuesday, social media platforms have been awash with Ugandans asking the minister to “leave Fresh Kid” to showcase his talent.
But the minister said she will only let the boy continue performing after his managers and the family convince her with a work plan that indicates the time he spends in school, sleep and attends to music because at seven years, the child does not have consent.
At the age of seven, a childlike Fresh Kid can only be counselled when caught in wrong because the law only provides for those aged 12 and above to be taken to a remand home if found in conflict with the law.
