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Napak, Uganda | URN | Women in the Napak district are taking a lead in the fight against child trafficking, a problem that has long plagued the region.
Poverty, hunger, insecurity, and violence at home have contributed to the trafficking of children, with sub-counties like Lokopo, Lopei, Matany, Lotome, and Lorengecora being the most affected.
Despite security checkpoints, children continue to escape through panya routes, aided by motorcyclists. Some parents are alleged to be conniving with traffickers, while others are lured by promises of pay.
However, women in Lokopo sub-county have formed a vigilante group to monitor children’s movements in villages. Pascal Adiaka, a para-social worker, said they’re trying to heighten vigilance at the community level to prevent children from escaping.
Pascal Adiaka, a Para-social worker in Lokopo sub-county, said that the children have been evading stakeholders and ending up on the streets.
Adiaka noted that they’re trying to heighten their vigilance at the community level to prevent the children from escaping.
She said they have positioned themselves in each village, working with LC1s to establish the number of children and those in school, and to ensure they don’t leave the village without permission.
Adiaka lauded partners like Save the Children and UNICEF for supporting repatriated street children enrolled in school.
She said they’ve been visiting these children to assess their performance and found they’re improving and adapting to the learning environment.
Adiaka said some children aged 15 and above requested skilling programs, and their request was considered.
Juliana Ilukol, a resident of Nakalele village, Lokopo sub-county, said she’s monitoring children’s movements and following up on missing children.
Ilukol said that when she discovers a child has been missing for a day, she contacts authorities to intervene. She noted that children are sometimes kept in lonely places as they plan to move out of the region.
Anna Grace Nachap said that when children are repatriated and enrolled in schools, they follow up to assess their well-being.
Nachap noted it’s their role to monitor these children, ensure they’re safe, and prevent them from escaping back to the streets.
Nachap said they’re strictly monitoring motorcycle movements, intercepting those carrying more than two children.
She said that the children are interrogated and ordered to return home or to the LC1 office for further action.
Juliana Moru said they have been conducting dialogues to sensitize communities about the dangers of children going to the streets.
Moru said they are using every opportunity to discuss this issue, and the trend is gradually decreasing.
Moru revealed they’re encouraging parents to avoid domestic violence and create a conducive environment for children.
In 2024, Kampala Capital City Authority launched an operation to remove Karamojong street children and repatriate them to Karamoja. As of June 2025, over 600 children from the Napak district were integrated into schools like Loodoi, Lokodiokodio, Lotome Girls, and Lokopo Primary School.
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