Faith Nyasuguta
Ugandan activists have said the Ugandan government should severely punish all men impregnating girls to make them accountable for the rape.
Speaking in Kampala on Wednesday, the activists told journalists that severe punishment could dissuade others from raping girls and aid halt the cycle of sexual abuse.
“They should learn that if they defile or rape girls, then they must serve some kind of punishment, including going to prison,” Ms Diana Nansumba, a programme officer at CEDOVIP, said.
“The girls also get some kind of relief once these perpetrators are put behind bars.”
The group of activists included representatives from the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP), United Nations (UN) Women, Domestic Violence Act (DVA) and Plan International Uganda.
Their fresh demand comes amid increased reports of sexual abuse cases during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Statistics from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) show that in 2020, about 354,736 teenage pregnancies in Uganda were registered while 196,499 were recorded in the first six months of 2021.
Moses Ntenga, an executive director at Joy for Children Uganda, rebuked fathers who sexually abuse their daughters.
“Awareness should first be created in communities and encourage people, including relatives, to raise alarm once they suspect anything fishy happening in their societies,” he said.
Separate data from the Ministry of Gender reveals that among the 1,682 defilement cases reported in 2020 through the child helpline services, 200 were of fathers abusing their daughters.
The Justice, Law and Order (JLOs) sector needs to ensure that prosecution is done in a timely manner and that victims get justice, Sheila Ayot Nyoko, the communications officer at Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) said.
The activists further reprimanded those who support barring teen mothers from returning to study at church-affiliated schools.
“We are disappointed in the religious leaders and school administrators who have refused to adhere to the government directives (of allowing pregnant girls or those who have given birth to return for studies),” Grace Namataka, the national advocacy officer at CEDOVIP, said.
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