In a decisive move to strengthen the protection of children and vulnerable adults, the Kampala Archdiocese has announced a comprehensive Child and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding and Protecting Policy.
The policy mandates the immediate suspension and potential dismissal of any clergy, religious personnel, staff member, or volunteer found guilty of abusing or endangering a child.
The new guidelines underscore the Church’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for children in its schools and institutions. According to the policy, the Archdiocese will treat “very seriously any form of mistreatment, exploitation, neglect, or injury inflicted upon children and vulnerable adults,” with offenders facing consequences under both canon and civil law.
Launching the policy at the Pope Paul Memorial Centre in Lubaga on Thursday, Kampala Archdiocese Archbishop, The Most Rev. Paul Ssemogerere, said the new framework reaffirms the Church’s dedication to safeguarding vulnerable children.
He explained that once a complaint is received, the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Officer will immediately initiate a formal investigation. The accused will be notified and allowed to submit relevant records or statements as part of the investigative process.
“For the first time, we have a clear operational framework that ensures accountability and prioritizes the protection of our children,” Ssemogerere said.
Under the policy, lay staff and volunteers will also be subject to internal disciplinary measures wherever civil law permits. Additionally, individuals accused of abuse may be temporarily suspended or relieved of duties to protect victims and prevent further harm while investigations are ongoing. In cases requiring legal intervention, the Archdiocese will promptly refer matters to law enforcement and child protection authorities.
Fr. Ronald Kigozi highlighted that although international frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and Uganda’s 2020 Child Protection Policy provide broad guidance, many dioceses have historically lacked clear operational procedures.
The new policy fills this critical gap, providing clear, enforceable guidelines for managing allegations of abuse.
The initiative has been welcomed by educational and community leaders. The Vice Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University, Prof. Patrick Edrin Kyamanywa, praised the policy, noting that schools have long struggled to protect vulnerable learners in the absence of standardized procedures.
The head teacher of St. Augustine College Wakiso, Joseph Kawuma Ddamulira, expressed optimism that the guidelines will help schools effectively manage misconduct among both teachers and students.
The Kampala Archdiocese’s policy marks a significant step forward in strengthening child protection in Uganda, ensuring that children and vulnerable adults in church-run institutions are safeguarded, and that accountability measures are rigorously enforced.