Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Criminal Investigations Directorate-CID is worried of another likely upsurge of defilement cases during this 42-day partial lockdown imposed by government to stop the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
On Sunday, President Museveni announced several measures including closure of schools, suspension of religious gatherings and transport between districts for at least 42 days.
According to the annual crime report of 2020, complied by Crime Investigations Directorate, a total of 14,134 cases of defilement were registered by police, compared to 13,613 cases that were reported in 2019, an increase of 3.8%.
It was established that out of these, children between the ages of 15-17 years were leading with 9,954 cases, followed by 2,986 cases between 9-14 years. The records indicated that 301 children were defiled by suspects who were HIV positive.
AIGP Grace Akullo, the Criminal Investigations Directorate boss said that most of victims were defiled during last year’s lockdown by perpetrators who were considering some to be ready for marriage after developing breasts.
Charles Twine, the CID spokesperson has told Uganda Radio Network-URN that as law enforcement bodies, apart from the challenge of enforcing the Covid-19 guidelines in place, another disturbing factor is going to be high reported cases of defilement, likely to shoot-up once again in this lockdown.
In one of the incidents during last year’s lockdown, a man in Kireka intruded in a home and defiled three girls who were left home alone. Now Twine says that parents and local leaders must strictly monitor and safeguard vulnerable children while at home.
Another extreme incident was registered by Kira Road Police Division in Kamwokya in Kampala city, when a minor of 8-years was lured by a neighbor who asked her to follow her, but later handed her to people who defiled her.
“After they strangled my baby and dumped her along Church road, as they thought that she was dead, but God was there, police patrols found her and took to Naguru hospital,” her mother narrated.
In 2020, Katwe Police Division in Kampala registered the highest number of defilement with 252 cases followed by Kamuli at 236, Mbale with230, Buyende with207, Mukono 193, Tororo 188, Buikwe 186, Kiryandongo 185 and Luweero174, as the worst ten districts.
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