Expert Views

Uganda Police recently released the 2021 annual crime report, and among the crimes highlighted were cases of abuse and exploitation of children. An alarming 2,000 children were reported to be stolen, in addition to those exploited and trafficked and over 14,000 defilement cases were reported in the year. 

However only about half (6,191) were taken to court, with 939 convictions, 24 acquitted and 174 dismissed. The report came on the backdrop of several viral videos on social media of children being beaten and physically tortured. In all cases, what is most perplexing is that the offenders are people known to the child, either by kinship relations (Parent/guardians/ uncles/aunties) or by community associations, such as their teachers and neighbours. 

These grim statistics are a telling sign that our households, schools and communities have continued to be unsafe places for our children to be secure and to thrive. 

While the executive and the legislative arms of government have done a commendable job in establishing laws and associated policies that protect and secure the children’s wellbeing, more needs to be done. One of the key arrears that need attention is resourcing of the justice, law, and order (JLOS) sector with enough human and financial resources to handle cases of child abuse and exploitation in a timely and decisive way. 

In an interview published by New Vision on May 24, the judiciary spokesperson highlighted the problem of shortage of judicial officers and associated resources to support resolving such cases.

The office of the director of public prosecutions in the recent memorial lecture of the senior state prosecutor Joan Kagezi also highlighted the same. 

This is also a routine challenge raised by police relating to few investigators to handle cases, in addition to other crimes. These limitations are compounding the problem, and if not adequately addressed, we will see our country lose a lot in terms of what holds the future. 

We need to secure the future of our country by ensuring that there is accelerated justice for children. Parents/ guardians must be well sensitised about reporting cases of abuse, especially defilement, and ensure that they support the process of evidence collection timely. The localised system of trying to negotiate with the abusers and perpetrators of sex offenses against children needs to be dismantled. Local leadership ought to be at the forefront of paying keen attention to the violations and supporting the caregivers in distress to successfully report the cases.

The probation dn social welfare office, together with the community development staff at the local government level must closely coordinate with the police in supporting the investigations to aid successful prosecution of these cases. 

Many times, the poor and illiterate caregivers get overwhelmed with the requirements of the formal systems, but if mandated, parties work more closely together, justice can be achieved for children.

There is also a need to explore ways with the legal fraternity to see that free legal aid is prioritised and provided to the poorer households seeking justice for their children. Special trial sessions ought to be regular to ensure that the backlog of the cases relating to offenses against children are expeditiously addressed. To further ensure more success, there is need to capacitate the different actors with the necessary skills and knowledge for fair trials that in the end serve justice for the children. 

Underpinning all this is the aspect of resourcing. As a development partner, ChildFund often facilitates parents and children with the reporting processes for cases of violation against children that have been brought to our attention. However, this is not sustainable in the long run, but it can be, if the government increases resources allotted to the justice sector and especially to responding to the needs of children seeking justice. 

The country can achieve more including many sustainable development outcomes if children are well protected through a well resourced and highly effective justice system. As caregivers and the leadership of today, it is also on us to ensure that the systems in place function and protect children for them to realise their potential. This will contribute greatly to strengthening the foundations for all inclusive social economic development in this country.