KAMPALA: Child rights activists continue to blame the weak enforcement of laws on the increase in child related offences.
Speaking to KFM, Timothy Opobo, the Executive Director Africhild Center, the reduction in cases of defilement cited in the Annual Crime Report is still insignificant due to poor law enforcement.
According to the police Annual Crime Report, released on Monday, over 10,400 cases of defilement were reported to police in 2025, compared to 12,300 reported in 2024, marking a 15% decrease.
Opobo, says there is urgent need for more effective enforcement of the law.
“Over ten thousand cases that has been reported and if you truck of many of these cases actually made it into the court system and how many received judgments, you will find less than 10% of them have,” Mr. Opobo said.
Opobo also appeals for more funding to help structures dealing with child abuse in the country such as the Child and Family Protection Unit of the police, Probation Office at the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development are all under-resourced.
He cites the process of medical examination of the victim in medical centers, process the interrogation and arresting of perpetrators; all of which carry significant costs, yet the structures are often cash strapped.
“You find that these structures which are supposed to help the justice cannot actually do it because they are handcuff, they do not have the recourses and even the most limited logistical support,” added Mr. Opobo.
