Police Want Law On Domestic Violence

By Kizito Malumba THE POLICE have asked the Government to enact a separate law on domestic violence. They said it had become a common crime. The request was made by Benjamin Namanya, the Mobile Police Patrol Unit commandant. Namanya was addressing over 40 police officers at Kibuli Police Training College on Friday. The officers had undergone a two-day sensitisation workshop on domestic violence. The workshop, intended for junior officers, was organised by Slum Aid Project, an NGO working in Kampala slums with a major focus on domestic violence. Namanya said under the current law the Police were in a weak position to handle serious domestic violence cases like marital rape, defilement, incest and wife battering. He said the law grades the cases as assault. "If a separate law is enacted, the victims will be in a strong position to seek redress from the authorities," he said. He advised the officers to encourage children to seek Police protection against child abuse and domestic violence. He said children should be taught at school to report such acts. Namanya said the majority of the victims of domestic violence were women and children. He said 95% of the violence against children is by stepmothers. Ends