‘Go back to school or get arrested’ — Minister warns Ugandan 7-yrear-old rapper

Uganda’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Florence Nakiwala has told a 7-year-old rapper Patrick Ssenyonjo popularly known by the stage name Fresh kid, to go back to school or get arrested.

Florence Nakiwala gave the warning after it was alleged that Fresh kid was not attending school, and could perform late at night while his age mates were studying. The Youth minister who described this as child labour, warned the Ugandan 7-year-old rapper to go back to school or get arrested and further taken to a juvenile prison.

“The constitution clearly states that no one under the age of 18 is allowed to work therefore Fresh kid should not be working rather be in school. Anyone found aiding his music career will have to face the law as well. I take this opportunity to warn all of you who are engaging children in things like this and renting them houses, you will also be arrested according to the law” she said.

However the child rapper’s manager, Francis Kamoga, denied claims of his artiste dropping out of school. He further alleged that Fresh Kid who only performs over the weekend, does not get paid for it therefore is not considered to be working.

“I discovered him in a rural village miming some songs, brought him to the city and started paying his school fees,” Francis explained.