Legislators demand end to child sacrifice

Jul 12, 2009

NO one has a right to take another’s life. But child sacrifice is rampant these days. There is need to protect children from abuse, sacrifice and trafficking. On June 18, children presented a petition to the deputy speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga

Ranny Ismail

NO one has a right to take another’s life. But child sacrifice is rampant these days. There is need to protect children from abuse, sacrifice and trafficking. On June 18, children presented a petition to the deputy speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga. It is sad that the little have been forced to cry out for help.

Child sacrifice is a barbaric, regressive act. The gruesome stories of especially children, being killed by parents and strangers in horrific ritual practices have become common place. Dozens have been murdered in the last few years.

Efforts to protect children against the heinous crimes needs the concerted efforts of all; the Government, civil society, religious leaders, media, law enforcers, teachers and parents.
Article 6(1) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Uganda is a party, states that children have a right to life.

Parliament should be commended for pleading with the Government to enact a law regulating the activities and practices of the traditional healers and herbalists.

Members were concerned that whereas in Uganda there are two distinct categories of traditional practitioners; traditional healers and traditional herbalists, there is no institutionalised framework to govern the traditional healers and herbalists. No law regulates their activities. This is one of the reasons there have been many incidents of both adult and child sacrifice under the guise of traditional healers and herbalists.

Parliament condemns the activities and practices of witchdoctors and some errant herbalists. Just like the children, the legislature in a motion moved by Christopher Kibanzanga, MP Busongora, demanded that the executive brings a law to regulate the activities of traditional healers.

Kibanzanga said: “Our motto says, ‘For God and my country’, yet it becomes contradictory that a God-fearing country, exists alongside witchdoctors.”

Legislators want to see child sacrifice stopped. Parliament is waiting for the Government to table a bill on traditional and complementary medicine.

The purpose of the motion is to protect the people and children of Uganda against acts of child and human sacrifice.

The writer is a senior public relations officer of the Parliament of Uganda

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