The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Local leaders and Police in Luwero district are in blame games as the number of girls defiled in the district escalates each year.
According to the Police crime report, at least 99 cases of aggravated defilement were reported in 2023 within Luwero and as a result, the district was ranked the second with the highest cases across the Country.
Mukono district was ranked with highest cases after 111 defilement cases reported in same year. In 2022, 98 girls were defiled in Luwero district.
However the cases reported to the Police are few compared to 4,465 teenage girls who reported for antenatal care after they got pregnant within the financial year 2023/24.
At least 49 girls who got pregnant were below 15 years.
Doctor Innocent Nkonwa the Luwero District Health officer said the statistics were a poignant reminder that sexual abuses were rampant in the community and there was the need for all stakeholders to work together to fight the problem.
Nkonwa said that in ten cases of sexual intercourse, surveys indicate that only one person gets pregnant which indicates that many others are abused and never report.
Violent Busingye, the Officer in Charge of Luwero Child and Family Protection Unit (CFPU) said several parents in the district prefer to settle the defilement cases within communities for monetary gain and only turn up to the Police after they fail to agree with suspects.
Busingye added that even in the few cases reported to the Police, some parents also frustrate them by refusing to testify and others abandon them after getting money from suspects.
But sub county leaders counter accused Policemen and the State Attorney of profiting in the cases hence the loss of trust in the Institutions.
Christine Nakabugo the District Councillor for Kikyusa sub county narrated that recently she forwarded a parent to Kikyusa Police Station to report a case of defilement of her child but Policemen asked for money and she abandoned the case leaving the suspect at large.
Nuru Kijjambu the LCIII Chairperson of Kikyusa sub county said although they have tried to encourage parents to report the cases to the Police, many have failed citing corruption and loss of trust in the force.
Faridah Najjuma the District Female Councillor For Luwero town councillor said that the situation has been made worse in the area because even the State Attorneys accept bribes from suspects to drop cases.
Najjuma cites cases where a school director and teacher accused of defiling pupils were recently dropped by the State Attorney leaving parents crying for justice.
As a result, Luwero district health officials, local leaders,the Probation officer and the Child and Family Police Unit officials sitting at Fatima Hall in Luwero town were urged on Friday to end the blame game but unite in the fight against defilement in the district.
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Those interested in change should spend time to study if the ordinary resident considers the act a crime
If the father accepts money for a defiled daughter, what is the role of the mother?
What about the community?
What is the value of girls to this setting?
Your interventions may be alien practice!
Having been strained by fending sor some orphans
One gather’s all forensic evidence to prove defilement
Including a dental report
One concerned citizen makes a call:
A lot of trouble on this village
We understand you want to arrest so and so’s son
The family had intentions of looking after the pregnancy”
Now how do we coexist
You then recall how every girl who showed features of puberty became a mother
Getting into a temporally marriage, often dropping out and starting another cycle
Some settings seem to have their own standard ( only lacking documentation)
Having been strained by fending sor some orphans
One gather’s all forensic evidence to prove defilement
Including a dental report
One concerned citizen makes a call:
A lot of trouble on this village
We understand you want to arrest so and so’s son
The family had intentions of looking after the pregnancy”
Now how do we coexist
You then recall how every girl who showed features of puberty became a mother
Getting into a temporally marriage, often dropping out and starting another cycle
Some settings seem to have their own standard ( only lacking documentation)