Iganga, (UG): Police in Busoga East region have said there is an increase in the number of reported defilement cases in the last ten months of 2023 compared to the cases which were reported last year.
The Busoga East Police Spokesperson, SSP Diana Nandawula in an interview with DailyExpress revealed that 337 defilement cases were reported between January and October 2023 while 325 defilement cases were reported in the year 2022 across the policing region.
The policing region comprises of six districts; Iganga, Namutumba, Namayingo, Mayuge, Bugiri and Bugweri.
“We registered 337 defilement cases between January and October this year and there is an increase in these cases compared to 325 defilement cases which we registered in the same period last year,”
SSP Nanwaula was particularly concerned with the cases which are not reported and matters end up being resolved in the community through mutual understanding and charging fines from suspects, something she said has led to accumulated cases as it doesn’t deter others from committing similar offences.
“These are only reported cases but others are settled in communities via charging suspects fines and giving away underage girls for marriage on mutual understanding of taking care of the girls and their babies upon birth,” SSP Nandawula said.
Defilement cases continue to be a challenge in the region of Busoga East according to Ms. Nandawula and she reiterated that they are committed to tame such cases by doing sensitization and ensuring lawful actions against the suspects through prosecutions.
Meanwhile, police say they registered reduced cases of rape to 26 cases which were reported in the region between January and October this year(2023) compared to the 35 cases which were reported last year(2024).
“From the start of this year to date, we have registered 26 rape cases in the six districts that make up Busoga East region. They have reduced compared to the 35 rape cases which we registered last year in the same period,” SSP Nandawula added.
She also called upon parents to avoid entering into mutual understanding with suspects of rape, defilement and other related offences which are capital in nature.
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