Collusion frustrates prosecution of sexual abuse in Bukomansimbi

Bukomansimbi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in Bukomansimbi district is struggling to prosecute cases of sexual abuse against minors due to collusion among parents and offenders.

Records at the Bukomansimbi District Probation Office indicate that between 2019 and 2021, a total of 1,013 sexual abuse cases were formally recorded to have been committed against young age girls below 18 years. These included cases of defilement and rape, some of which resulted in teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health complications.

But Backer Mulumba, the District Probation Officer says that only 112 cases, representing 11 percent of the offenders were taken to court for prosecution. He says that the majority of offenders evade arrest usually after negotiating settlements with the parents of the victims.

Mulumba says that they registered incidences where parents have used the victims medical reports as bait for soliciting money and other material gains from the offenders before helping them to evade arrest and eventual prosecution.

Jimmy Ssejjengo, the Officer in charge of the Child and Family Protection Police unit in Bukomansimbi district, explains the effective enforcement of the law through apprehending and prosecution of culprits is being frustrated by the community’s reluctance and parents of the victims who still accept the social vice and conceal details with the intent of obtaining money from offenders at the expense of the victims.

Ssejengo however adds that they have now resorted to conducting sensitization programs for children in their respective schools, such that they can stand up against any form of abuse minted out against their peers as well as encouraging them to get the courage to promptly report offenders to authorities.

Bukomansimbi district chairperson Fred Nyenje Kayiira says that besides the existing national laws on child protection, he is going to implore the district council to enact a localized bylaw to reprimand all persons who fail to report any form of violence against children committed in their neighbourhood.

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