438 girls defiled in three months in eastern Uganda - Police

By Moses Nampala

A total of 438 girls from seven districts in eastern Uganda were defiled between January and March 2013. Ten of the victims were defiled by men living with HIV/AIDS.

The Police report on the defilement covers Mbale, Kapchorwa, Bukwo, Kween, Bududa, Manafwa and Sironko districts.

Dr. Barnabas Rubanza, the eastern regional Police surgeon, in an interview last week said five out of the 10 children defiled by men infected with HIV/AIDS, could not access post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), because they lived in areas far from a medical facility.

PEP is medical attention offered to victims that are defiled or raped by men suspected to be infected with HIV/AIDS to try to suppress chances of the virus multiplying in the body of the victim. Rubanza said victims defiled or raped by persons infected by HIV/AIDS are supposed to access treatment within 72 hours.

PEP treatment can be accessed at all Health Centre IIIs across the country.

Marion Kutuusa, the Mbale regional Police officer in charge family and child protection unit, said 45% of the total number of defiled girls registered between January and March 2013, were under 14 years of age.

“About 65% of the total number of cases registered were girls aged between 14 and 16 years. Those suspected to have defiled girls below the age of 14 have since been charged with aggravated defilement, while the other category would be charged with defilement,” explained Kutuusa.

The defilement cases in the region are being blamed on moral decay and alcohol consumption among others.

The Police said about 95% of the suspects were apprehended.