The Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga has faulted parents in the country for failure to protect their children which has led to rampant cases of defilement.
Enanga said that most of the girls defiled fall victims of sexual abuse during holidays at the hands of the people they live with at home, communities and relatives because parents are not able to monitor their movements.
Enanga noted that a number of parents abandon their children in their homes without responding to their needs, a situation that attempts their predators to lure them into sex and defilement. He urged parents to always be vigilant during holidays or whenever they are with their children especially girls to be in the know of whereabouts and the people they hang out with.
Police have since given tips to the public unveiling signs of a sexually abused girl for parents to be aware and deter their girls before it is too late.
Enanga added that much as a girl might not tell verbally or try to reveal that someone is making love with her, there are some signs like change in behavior that parents should always monitor.
“Not at any time a child will tell that she is making love with someone or that she is being sexually abused but there are some clues to tell you such as behavioral change, unexplained accumulation of money or gifts, disorderly eating or preoccupation with body. The other signs to look out for include aggression, property destruction, drug abuse, excessive compliance or a desire to be overly obedient, lack of confidence, persistent sexual themes in drawing, stories and plays among others,” Enanga outlined these after the CFPU department of police released statistics of defilement cases committed between 2014 and 2017 respectively.
A report released by Child and Family Protection Unit of police (CFPU) revealed that 43,700 girls were defiled between 2014 and 2017. According to police, 6,960 cases were recorded in 2014, 5581 in 2015 and 5,707 in 2016.
The statistics also show that the Criminal Investigations Directorate-CID registered 14,985 and 17,935 defilement cases in 2017 and 2016 respectively.
Although the CFPU report doesn’t show the areas with the highest and lowest defilement cases, a report released by the Criminal Investigations Directorate in 2018 lists Lira, Mbale, Gulu, Kibuku, Serere, Kamuli, Mubende, Buyende, Mayuge, Arua and Dokolo as the areas with the highest number of defilement cases. For comments, call or text us on 0752510225.
