Yumbe police have arrested a 31-year-old man accused of defiling his one-year-and-nine-month-old niece in a disturbing incident that has alarmed the local community.
The suspect, Hamid, a resident of Leinga Central Cell in Barakala Town, was taken into custody after the child’s guardian returned home on Sunday, November 16, around 5 p.m., to find the toddler bleeding from her private parts.
Neighbour Kalisumu Cheka, who had left the child in Hamid’s care while fetching water, said the sight of the injuries prompted her to raise an alarm, alerting nearby residents. The LC I chairperson was informed and immediately reported the matter to police. Authorities say the suspect attempted to flee, prompting the neighbour to raise the alarm further.
Collins Asea, spokesperson for the North West Nile region police, confirmed the arrest, adding that a case of aggravated defilement has been registered at Barakala Police Station under SD Reference 08/16/11/2025. A medical examination revealed that the child had sustained multiple injuries to her private parts.
The Uganda’s 2024 Police Crime Report shows a 9% decline in reported child abuse cases, from 866 in 2023 to 787 in 2024. This shift reflects ongoing efforts by civil society, government, and communities to protect children.
Joy for Children an organisation fighting for the rights of the children, says there is need to strengthen child protection systems and reporting mechanisms, enforce laws consistently and prosecute offenders, expand school and community-based prevention programs, and provide comprehensive support to survivors.
According to UNICEF, sexual abuse is the most common form of violence, with gender as a major risk factor.
Child labour is a common feature of life for extremely vulnerable children. Millions of children are working in exploitative conditions in Uganda, with 93 per cent of rural children believed to be engaged in commercial or subsistence agriculture.
