Luwero district leaders have raised a red flag over the escalating cases of defilement perpetuated by teachers and relatives.
According to Luwero District Probation office, at least seven girls between 9-14 years are defiled each week in the district by teachers, relatives, and friends.
Joyce Namigadde the Luwero District Probation officer says that the latest case this week involved a 13-year-old student who was allegedly defiled and impregnated by her teacher at Luteete Secondary School and another 13-year-old boy sodomized by a friend in Kiddudula village in Kamira sub county.
Namigadde adds another suspect Jonah Ssebanenya, the Director of Kings Palace Primary School was remanded this week over aggravated defilement and child trafficking.
Last week, Police in Luwero arrested Sulaiman Kizito aged 56 years a resident of Kasenene village for allegedly defiling a stepdaughter and grandchild.
Namigadde says that there are fears that the cases will increase further as we head towards holidays and festive season over laxity by parents.
Erastus Kibirango the LCV Chairperson says that although they have put pressure on the Police to ensure they prosecute all culprits, parents should be vigilant and stop entrusting their children with anybody including close relatives.
Kibirango adds that there is a need for parents to sensitize their children about rampant sexual abuse and advise them not to trust any person.
Richard Bwabye Ntulume, the Luwero Resident District Commissioner says that they have since held a Security meeting where they agreed with the Judiciary, Police, and State Attorney to work jointly to ensure the cases of defilement among other capital offenses are handled well so that culprits are prosecuted to deter others from committing them.
Bwabye says that although there are efforts to fight the vice, parents are obliged to protect and talk to their children about the rampant sexual abuse.
Brenda Nabukenya, the Luwero District Woman Member of Parliament says that so many defilement cases go unregistered by Police because pupils fear to report suspects and other parents settle them before reaching court.
Nabukenya says that she intends to table the matter before Parliament asking the Ministry of Education to come up with policies that promote feedback mechanisms on sexual abuse, especially in lower primary schools.
Police in Luwero say the majority of the suspects in the defilement case have been arrested and presented to court. The Force however decries lack of funds to investigate the cases.
According to the Police crime report, a total of 166 cases of defilement were reported to Police in 2022 of which 68 cases were classified as aggravated and the district ranked in the second position with the highest cases across the country.
According to section 129(3) of the Penal Code Act, the maximum sentence for aggravated defilement is death.
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