Sexual violence against children remains a common problem in many Ugandan communities. According to the 2018 Violence Against Children Survey in Uganda, one in four girls (25%) and one in 10 boys (11%) aged 13-17, had reported sexual violence in the past year. SVAC is fueled by many factors including poverty, child neglect, drug and alcohol abuse, and harmful social norms and practices.
The government of Uganda through different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) has undertaken measures to address this human rights violation at different levels. One of the notable measures is the adoption of legal and policy instruments, including strategies and programs aimed at curbing the problem. Article 34 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda provides for the protection of children from all forms of exploitation. This is further reinforced in the Penal Code Amendment Act, Section 42 of the Children’s Amendment Act (2016), the National Strategy on Ending Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy, and the National Child Policy 2020, including an implementation plan for 2020-2025.
The government has also established institutions, structures and systems mandated to implement the laws, policies and systems. The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) has a department of Youth and Children Affairs mandated to review and disseminate laws and policies on children and youth, build capacity for local governments and other stakeholders, and ensure children and youth participate in development processes. However, other MDAs such as the Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Health, as well as Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, also play a critical role in prevention and response efforts. The government has also established local council systems, police, courts and prisons, all of which are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that laws and policies on sexual violence are implemented.
Despite the presence of this strong legal and policy framework, this vice has continued to occur in different communities and very few survivors get justice. The 2024 Police Crime Report indicates that out of the 12,312 cases of defilement reported in 2024, only 6,584 were taken to court, 2,744 cases were not proceeded with, and 5,097 cases are still under inquiry. Out of the 6,584 cases taken to court, only 749 secured convictions.
Evidence generated through different programmatic inventions, including studies by World Vision, Child Fund International, Save the Children and most recently, the Safeguarding Childhood report by Oak Foundation, all reveal a financing gap as a major challenge to prevention and response efforts at different levels. For instance, the comprehensive implementation plan 2020-2025 of the National Child Policy has remained unfunded, and the office of the probation and social welfare officer responsible for handling all child-related matters at the district remains underfunded.
