Over 2,500 girls defiled
Jan 08, 2009
THERE were 2,540 reported cases of defilement in 11 eastern region districts last year. The eastern regional Police spokesman, Iddi Ssenkumbi, said the figure indicated a slight drop from the 2,604 girls who were defiled the previous year.
By Daniel Edyegu
THERE were 2,540 reported cases of defilement in 11 eastern region districts last year. The eastern regional Police spokesman, Iddi Ssenkumbi, said the figure indicated a slight drop from the 2,604 girls who were defiled the previous year.
He was briefing journalists on Tuesday during the release of the 2008 crime report on capital offences.
The report covered Bukwo, Pallisa, Kapchorwa, Tororo, Butaleja, Budaka, Manafwa, Mbale, Busia, Sironko and Bududa districts.
He observed that despite the drop in defilement cases, the figure was still high. He attributed this to traditional cultural values.
“The Sabiny, Bagwere and Bagisu believe that at 14 years, a girl is ready for marriage. They arrange secret marriages for their daughters and only report the man to the Police for defilement when he fails to meet the bride price.
So they use us to intimidate the man into compliance,†Ssenkumbi said.
He said in Bugisu region, most defilement and rape cases occurred during the pre-circumcision night processions popularly known as the kadodi.
He said old men take advantage of the processions to lure young girls into sex.
Ssenkumbi said to minimise the rate of capital offences in the region, the Police had this year initiated a plan code-named ‘zero tolerance to violent crime and accidents.’
He said under the new strategy, the Police would intensify door-to-door community policing in both rural and urban areas.
“We plan to visit each home at least once every three months. This will enable us know the challenges facing households and allow the residents identify for us people they suspect to be criminals in their communities,†he said.
THERE were 2,540 reported cases of defilement in 11 eastern region districts last year. The eastern regional Police spokesman, Iddi Ssenkumbi, said the figure indicated a slight drop from the 2,604 girls who were defiled the previous year.
He was briefing journalists on Tuesday during the release of the 2008 crime report on capital offences.
The report covered Bukwo, Pallisa, Kapchorwa, Tororo, Butaleja, Budaka, Manafwa, Mbale, Busia, Sironko and Bududa districts.
He observed that despite the drop in defilement cases, the figure was still high. He attributed this to traditional cultural values.
“The Sabiny, Bagwere and Bagisu believe that at 14 years, a girl is ready for marriage. They arrange secret marriages for their daughters and only report the man to the Police for defilement when he fails to meet the bride price.
So they use us to intimidate the man into compliance,†Ssenkumbi said.
He said in Bugisu region, most defilement and rape cases occurred during the pre-circumcision night processions popularly known as the kadodi.
He said old men take advantage of the processions to lure young girls into sex.
Ssenkumbi said to minimise the rate of capital offences in the region, the Police had this year initiated a plan code-named ‘zero tolerance to violent crime and accidents.’
He said under the new strategy, the Police would intensify door-to-door community policing in both rural and urban areas.
“We plan to visit each home at least once every three months. This will enable us know the challenges facing households and allow the residents identify for us people they suspect to be criminals in their communities,†he said.