Nile Post
  • News
    • 2021 Elections Watch
      • The Election Podcast
    • Education
    • Exclusive
    • Investigations
    • Security
  • Business
  • Opinions
    • Columns
      • Parting Shot
      • Two Sides of a Coin
      • Bazanye’s Quick Shots
      • Week in Ugandan News
  • Global
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • The Americas
  • East Africa
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • South Sudan
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Health
      • Coronavirus outbreak
    • Tour & Travel
    • Love Therapist
    • Homes
  • Tech
  • Special Reports
    • Kabaka Mutebi’s 25th Coronation Series
    • Focus on Somalia
    • Sino-Africa
    • Uganda at 56
    • Anti-Corruption Fight
    • Age Limit Map
    • Tuve Ku Kaveera
  • Sports
    • Place-It
    • StarTimes Uganda Premier League
    • Bundesliga
    • World Cup
  • Jobs
  • Archives
  • Live
No Results Found
View All Results
  • News
    • 2021 Elections Watch
      • The Election Podcast
    • Education
    • Exclusive
    • Investigations
    • Security
  • Business
  • Opinions
    • Columns
      • Parting Shot
      • Two Sides of a Coin
      • Bazanye’s Quick Shots
      • Week in Ugandan News
  • Global
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • The Americas
  • East Africa
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • South Sudan
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Health
      • Coronavirus outbreak
    • Tour & Travel
    • Love Therapist
    • Homes
  • Tech
  • Special Reports
    • Kabaka Mutebi’s 25th Coronation Series
    • Focus on Somalia
    • Sino-Africa
    • Uganda at 56
    • Anti-Corruption Fight
    • Age Limit Map
    • Tuve Ku Kaveera
  • Sports
    • Place-It
    • StarTimes Uganda Premier League
    • Bundesliga
    • World Cup
  • Jobs
  • Archives
  • Live
No Results Found
View All Results
Nile Post
No Results Found
View All Results

Opinion:Why Covid-19 poses new challenges for child protection

NP admin by NP admin
June 26, 2020 at 5:59 am
in Coronavirus outbreak, Opinions
Opinion: Uganda grappling with protecting street children during the coronavirus pandemic

Innocent Byaruhanga

By Innocent Byaruhanga Oburye

On June 16, Uganda joined the rest of the continent to commemorate the Day of the African child.

This year’s commemoration was low-key compared to previous years, mainly because of Covid19 restrictions on public gatherings.

The Day of the African Child is celebrated every year to take stock of the plight of the African child.

The day was first recognised by the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) in 1991, in remembrance of the school children killed in the Soweto uprising of 1976 in then apartheid South Africa.

This year’s commemoration comes at a time when child protection is even facing more challenges.

The Covid19 restrictions imposed by government meant that all children were sent home for a lengthy period, mostly idle and in some instances loitering in towns and villages.

Most parents have lost their livelihoods and hence they are unable to sufficiently take care of their families.

Too much idle time at home, coupled with loss of livelihoods has exposed children of all ages and sexes to abuse.

Recent reports from Police indicate that at least 3,000 cases of domestic violence have been committed since the lockdown started.

These cases have mostly been committed against women and children.

Even in the case of the former, children often end up as the victims. Domestic violence, in some extreme cases resulting into death of the mother, exposes children to life-long suffering.

The annual Police Crime Report shows that in 2019, 13,613 cases of defilement were committed against children.

The other forms of abuse against children recorded were; domestic violence at 13,693, child neglect at 6,202, child desertion at 2,261 and child torture at 1,302. These cases are expected to rise this year because of the additional challenges posed by Covid19.

Recently, the media reported that in just the two districts of Kaliro and Luuka, at least 60 girls were defiled and impregnated during the lockdown period.

In Kakumiro district, shocking media reports have revealed that parents are selling their daughters into early marriage in exchange for shs5,000.

It is also important to note that over 50% of child abuse cases are never reported to police or any other authorities.

The lockdown has presented new vulnerabilities for the quintessential Ugandan child, and left children exposed to sexual predators who are always prowling for their next prey.

The challenge is that neither the parents nor the law enforcement are doing their work sufficiently. Parents have negated their responsibility of guiding and counselling their children.

Majority of the domestic violence and child abuse cases never make it to court. In most cases, those that get some form of pyrrhic justice are the ones that are resolved through out-of-court settlements.

There are fears that if the time children are staying home is longer, many more children will be abused physically, emotionally and sexually.

It’s absurd to note that the abusers in most cases are known to the victims.

There are also fears that the increased abuse of children coupled with the disintegration of families will lead to an increased influx of children on the streets.

In a 2019 survey conducted by Save Street Children Uganda, it was revealed that violence against children was a leading push factor for children joining the street.

As the lockdown continues, it is imperative for parents to take their responsibilities of caring for and guiding their children, seriously.

It is vital to provide all children, but especially the girl-child, with age-appropriate sexual and reproduction health information to help them make informed decisions concerning their lives.

Community leaders need to be more vigilant to identify and report perpetrators of child abuse to authorities.

The police must fulfill its mandate; they should arrest and charge perpetrators of child abuse in courts of law.

We also need innovative programmes to support and rehabilitate victims of child abuse. The courts of laws should also prioritise domestic violence cases, as a measure of deterrence.

Innocent Byaruhanga Oburye is the founder and executive director of Save Street Children Uganda.

 

Tags: coronaviruscovid-19day of the african childInnocent Byaruhanga OburyekaliropoliceSave Street Children Uganda.

Related Posts

Zimbabwean general who helped overthrow Robert Mugabe dies of COVID-19
Africa

Zimbabwean general who helped overthrow Robert Mugabe dies of COVID-19

by NP admin
January 21, 2021
0

Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs Minister, Sibusiso Moyo, has died. The minister succumbed to Covid-19 at a local hospital, according to a...

Read more
Police apologise to Buganda, Catholic Church for firing teargas during clan meeting

We will continue siege at Bobi Wine’s home, offices- Security

January 19, 2021
Ghana reports new Covid-19 variants as cases rise

Ghana reports new Covid-19 variants as cases rise

January 18, 2021
‘Heavy security deployment in Kampala is causing anxiety, tension’

‘Heavy security deployment in Kampala is causing anxiety, tension’

January 13, 2021
Museveni apologises for death of boxer Ssenyange “killed by soldiers during an operation”

You will have yourself to blame – Museveni warns on violence in 2021 polls

January 13, 2021

Discussion about this post

Follow Us

  • 178.7k Fans
  • 148.6k Followers

Latest

US President Biden listens to Nigerian musician Burna Boy song

US President Biden listens to Nigerian musician Burna Boy song

January 21, 2021
Zimbabwean general who helped overthrow Robert Mugabe dies of COVID-19

Zimbabwean general who helped overthrow Robert Mugabe dies of COVID-19

January 21, 2021
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta (AP Photo/John Muchucha)

Kenya to become first East African country to receive COVID-19 vaccine

January 21, 2021
Trump leaves White House vowing ‘we will be back’

Trump leaves White House vowing ‘we will be back’

January 21, 2021
Kamala Harris becomes first female, first black and first Asian-American VP

Kamala Harris becomes first female, first black and first Asian-American VP

January 21, 2021
cocacola-ad-safebodacocacola-ad-safebodacocacola-ad-safeboda

Featured

15,000 recruits left jobless as government cancels new health extension workers policy
2021 Elections Watch

It is time to move on after January presidential poll- Kutesa tells diplomats

by Kenneth Kazibwe
January 21, 2021
0

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Kutesa has said...

Museveni commends Russia for supporting Uganda in defence, security

Russia’s Putin congratulates Museveni on re-election

January 20, 2021
Kampala Lord Mayor polls: Lukwago blames EC for low voter turnout

Kampala Lord Mayor polls: Lukwago blames EC for low voter turnout

January 20, 2021
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
Call us: +256-417-720-101

© 2020 Nile Post Uganda Ltd. - A Next Media Services Company.

No Results Found
View All Results
  • News
    • 2021 Elections Watch
      • The Election Podcast
    • Education
    • Exclusive
    • Investigations
    • Security
  • Business
  • Opinions
    • Columns
      • Parting Shot
      • Two Sides of a Coin
      • Bazanye’s Quick Shots
      • Week in Ugandan News
  • Global
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • The Americas
  • East Africa
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • South Sudan
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Health
      • Coronavirus outbreak
    • Tour & Travel
    • Love Therapist
    • Homes
  • Tech
  • Special Reports
    • Kabaka Mutebi’s 25th Coronation Series
    • Focus on Somalia
    • Sino-Africa
    • Uganda at 56
    • Anti-Corruption Fight
    • Age Limit Map
    • Tuve Ku Kaveera
  • Sports
    • Place-It
    • StarTimes Uganda Premier League
    • Bundesliga
    • World Cup
  • Jobs
  • Archives
  • Live

© 2020 Nile Post Uganda Ltd. - A Next Media Services Company.