Youth minister tells child rapper to hang up his mic

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Seven-year-old rapper Fresh Kid is a child star in Uganda

A Ugandan child rapper has been told to put down his microphone because he is too young to perform.

Youth minister Florence Nakiwala told the BBC that the country's labour laws state that no-one under 18 should work.

In a television interview on Uganda's NBS channel, she also warned that if the seven-year-old rapper Fresh Kid disobeyed the law he could face juvenile prison.

Child labour has been hard for authorities to stamp out, reports the BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga from the capital.

Children are regularly seen working on farms, in small businesses and street vending, she says.

Ms Nakiwala expressed concern that Fresh Kid, whose real name is Patrick Ssenyonjo, missed school since he was always busy working when other children his age were studying.

But his manager insists that the child star has continued going to school.

Francis Kamoga told the BBC that the rapper only performs on Saturdays and Sundays and has only had two shows, one music video and three songs since the start of the year.

He added that he is not working and does not get paid.

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

The star addresses critics in his latest song Banteka where he raps in a mix of Luganda and slang about people gossiping about him not going to school:

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“They underrate me because of my age, I hear what you are gossiping about: asking 'will he study？”

“Losers are weeping, calling out to their mothers, If you are afraid of me, get me cash. I'm the judge, I do not discriminate. Even if you are from the stone age, I will floor you.”

People on Twitter have been criticising the politician for harming the prospects of the child:

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I hope the Minister is aware there r many 7-yr-olds sleeping on the streets and obviously also not attending school. Fresh Kid would perhaps also b on the streets had it not bn for his remarkable talent. So, if the Minister really cares, she should help him balance school & music https://t.co/qkXDTz6zab

— FreeMyPeople (@j_musisi) March 27, 2019

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Minister nakiwala kiyingi she might have prepared a good job for fresh kid in the future years after school @dispatchug the way she is using her arrogance to stop the kid from his musical carrier #Banteeka #FreshKid naye muzeeyi you gave us adamant ministers

— kagugube Robert (@RobertKagugube) March 27, 2019

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