Drug abuse fuelling defilement, domestic violence in Wakiso — Police
“I am just three weeks old here but I have so far arrested 30 people for taking marijuana and I arrested them very late in the night and you cannot separate such a community from defilement and domestic violence,” said Kikaawa.
Fred Kikaawa, the officer in charge of Bakka police station in Wakiso district addressing some of the residents of Bakka at Kisoboka Primary School on Thursday. (Photos by Job Nantakiika)
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There is need to fight drug abuse in the communities if the fight against defilement and domestic violence is to register success, a senior police officer has noted.
Fred Kikaawa, the officer in charge of Bakka police station in Wakiso district, attributed the increasing cases of defilement and domestic violence to drug abuse.
In the three weeks he has spent at Bakka police station, Kikaawa has registered 10 cases of domestic violence and six cases of defilement.
“I am just three weeks old here but I have so far arrested 30 people for taking marijuana and I arrested them very late in the night and you cannot separate such a community from defilement and domestic violence,” said Kikaawa.
Kikaawa made the remarks during a sensitisation meeting, which was organised by the International Justice Mission [IJM] and the police at Kisoboka primary school at Bakka village in Mende sub-county, Wakiso district, on September 10.
However, Kikaawa noted that the Bakka community is already viewing him as a bad person, noting that when he arrested the suspects, some parents wanted to compromise him, but he refused.
According to Kikaawa, the defiled children were below 12 years and this makes it aggravated defilement.
Christine Asire, an IJM programme associate, said a baseline survey released by IJM in August 2025 showed that 58.6% of children countrywide are sexually abused, and majority are girls under 15 years of age (adolescents).
Christine Asire from the International Justice Mission [IJM] addressing some of the residents of Bakka village who turned up for the sensitisation meeting![Christine Asire from the International Justice Mission [IJM] addressing some of the residents of Bakka village who turned up for the sensitisation meeting](https://newvision-media.s3.amazonaws.com/cms/439af711-5cf8-4e4e-bb26-028c476380ba.jpg)
According to the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics census report released in 2024, adolescents and youth in Uganda account for 31% of the country’s population (approximately 14 million people aged 15 to 30). This age group represents a critical stage of life, with vast potential for personal and national development.
Asire also noted that 55% of women either in marriage or in relationships are also abused sexually or physically by their partners.
Crispo Ssepuuya, the councilor representing the people of Bakka parish at Mende Sub-County, said defilement and domestic violence are happening because communities have become detached from their traditional norms.
According to Ssepuuya, "there is a lot of moral decay and such bad morals are being passed on from one generation to another."
Ssepuuya slammed some of the parents who get so taken up by work and do not spare time for their families.
He also asked the Government to put in place a law against indecent dressing.
Betty Namugga, a counselor at Kisoboka Medical Center, warned parents against getting compromised, saying defilers spoil the future of the girl child, and, therefore, need to be punished.
Defilement figures
The 2025 annual police report showed that the force recorded a total of 10,492 cases of defilement last year compared to 12,312 cases reported in 2024, giving a decrease of 14.8%. The victims of the crime were 10,493 including 10,328 female juveniles, 128 male juveniles and 37 female adults.
A total of 3,473 cases of aggravated defilement were reported last year compared to 4,072 cases in 2024, giving a 14.7% increase. Most cases were registered in Rwenzori West with 225 aggravated defilement cases followed by Kampala Metropolitan North with 221 cases, Rwizi with 212 and Wamala with 204 cases.