Ugandan seven-year-old rapper Fresh Kid has reached an agreement with the Youth Ministry and has been allowed to pursue his showbiz ambition once more. The gifted rapper has been allowed to continue rapping and performing on condition that it’s after class, over the weekends and during school holidays.
Youth Minister Florence Nakiwala explained that the young rapper was allowed to rap only on the specified days. Fresh Kid is also prohibited from performing in clubs, bars or for commercial reasons.
This comes just weeks after Fresh Kid whose real name is Patrick Ssenyonjo was barred from doing music as it was believed he was not going to school like his peers. He was threatened with risking jail time if he did not down his musical tools and stayed in school.
“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,” Florence stated during an interview.
Speaking to the press, the Youth Minister, however, explained that putting the young rapper behind bars would have done him more harm than good as it would put him at risk of being harmed and picking up odd behaviours.
Florence assigned as a social worker to keep tabs on the singer and guarantee his rights as a child are always considered. “We told them about the Children’s Act, 2018, which talks about the right to survival, nutrition and good health, protection from any form of violence, the right to development and the right to go to school,” the minister said.