Crime against women, children on rise - report

Kampala. There is steady increase in incidents of crimes committed against women and children according to new statistics released by police yesterday.
Police released the statistics ahead of March 8, national celebrations to commemorate International Women’s Day in recognition of the women contributions.
The report capturing crimes committed against women and children between 2010 and 2016 indicate an increase in cases of women killed as a result of domestic violence, women trafficking, defilement, rape, child kidnap, child trafficking, child torture, incest, and child desertion among others.
In 2010, 109 women died as a result of domestic violence compared to the 163 that lost their lives in 2016.
Also 36 cases related to women trafficking were recorded in 2011 rising up to 375 cases in 2016.
Girl-child kidnap increased from 72 cases in 2011 to 572 in 2016.
Defilement cases rose from 14,973 in 2010 to 17,567 in 2016. Rapes cases shot up from 898 in 2010 to 1,572 in 2016. Child torture increased to 808 in 2016 from 660 cases in 2010. Child neglect rose from 4967 in 2010 to 5,692 in 2016 whereas child desertion increased from 1029 in 2010 to 1,525 in 2016.

Causes
Deputy Inspector General of Police, (DIGP), Martin Okoth Ochola and Andrew Kaweesi, the police spokesperson, attributed the soaring cases of violence against women and girl child to drug, alcohol, poverty and land related wrangles.
Mr Kaweesi, at the release of the report in Kampala, observed that Metropolitan (KMP) districts of Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono topped the list of districts that registered the highest number of domestic violence cases since 2010.
“Other factors responsible for the increase also include cultural practices and breakdown of family values. In our general observations, these cases are mainly committed in Wakiso, Mukono and Kampala,” Mr Kaweesi said.
Outside KMP, the districts of Rakai, Mbale, Maracha, Busoga and Northern Uganda region recorded the highest number of domestic violence against girls and women.
However, there was a decrease in recorded cases of indecent assault that ranged from 910 in 2010 to 548 offences in 2016.
Cases of child stealing declined from 173 to 168 in 2010 and 2016 respectively. In total, 16,946, 22,732, 2,6851, 30,294, 28,617, 28,549 and 31,041cases of violence against women were recorded in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Violence against the girl-child stood at 5,852, 6,662, 6,942, 9,932, 9,631, 10,102 and 9,217 were registered in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 in that order.
However, police authorities could not avail statistics of violence against men saying girls and women are the most victims of domestic violence.
Mr Ochola announced that Uganda Police Force would host its 60th Kigali Internal Conference Declaration (KCID) on combating domestic violence against women and girls from March 6-7.

[email protected].