Children drag father to police for negligence

A middle aged man who was arrested and held at Kamdini police station, Oyam district for abandoning his children to fend for themselves has been released on police bond.

Robert Okech, 45, a resident of Amukugungu village, Kamdini parish in Kamdini sub county, Oyam district was arrested on Saturday after his children reported a case of child neglect at Kamdini police station.

 The children's mother Silbina Oket separated with their father after series of domestic violence with Okech always threatening to cut her with a hoe and machettes.

The children, Moses Odong 15, Vicky Akumu 13, Dilish Acheng, 11, and Opoka 8 told police that their father abandoned them in the house since March 2016 without any food.

The children said their father has become aggressive towards them and on August 18, 2016, he attempted to spear his son Moses Odong for unclear reasons.

In order to make ends meet, Akumu peddles mangoes and other commodities at Kamdini Corner and gets money which she uses to buy food for the family.

Francis Kidega a neighbor to the family said Okech could be developing mental illness as a result of alcoholism. He said Okech always wants to kill his children when he returns home from his drinking spree.

North Kyoga Regional police spokesperson David Ongom was not available for comments as all his known telephone contacts were switched off.

Sgt. Rose Apili the officer in charge of child and Family Protection Unit at Kamdini Police Station confirmed the incident. Apili said Okech was released on Monday morning after his clan leaders asked to intervene. She said the clan leaders were to hold talks with Okech on Tuesday afternoon to see if he can reform or they would prepare the file and take him to court.

 

Apili said Kamdini Police station has registered 115 cases of domestic violence and violating of children rights from the month of May to August 2016 from the three sub counties of Kamdini, Aber and Myene.

Apili said drinking alcohol which is very rampant in the areas is the major cause of domestic violence and violation of children's rights.