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A Nation’s Call: Ending Childhood Sexual Violence in Uganda

Uganda grapples with a range of persistent social challenges—HIV/AIDS, corruption, illiteracy, poverty, hunger, gender-based violence, and child marriages. Among these, Childhood Sexual Violence (CSV) continues to escalate, yet remains under-addressed. While some national interventions exist, especially under child protection and education programs, the implementation gap is stark. This leads to the pressing question: Are we failing because we lack solutions, or because we fail to act on the ones we have? According to the 2024 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, a total of 12,312 defilement cases were reported—12,009 involving girls and 308 involving boys. These numbers are not just statistics; they are a loud alarm signaling the need for urgent, united action. However, defilement is just one visible form of CSV. The report, like many public discourses, often misses the broader picture. What Exactly Is Childhood Sexual Violence? CSV refers to any involvement of a child in sexual activity—with or without physical contact—where the child is unable to give informed consent due to age or developmental stage. It can be: Physical (e.g., rape, defilement, fondling), Emotional or psychological (e.g., coercion, sexual threats), Online (e.g., grooming, sextortion, exposure to pornography), Non-contact (e.g., forcing a child to watch sexual acts, using sexual language). By expanding our understanding of what CSV entails, we can better recognize and respond to the full spectrum of abuse. Why We Must Act Now The consequences of CSV are devastating. Survivors often suffer from: Long-term trauma and mental health issues, Sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS, Teenage pregnancies, School dropout, Death by suicide or complications from abuse. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a vicious cycle that undermines Uganda’s development. As long as we ignore CSV, we will continue to raise questions like: “What kind of society are we becoming?” or “Who raised these boys and girls?” Where Solutions Begin To break this cycle, we must invest in prevention, protection, and healing. Key approaches include: Positive Parenting: This is the backbone of prevention. Programs like Parenting for Respectability must be scaled up to help caregivers nurture children in safe, respectful environments. Age-appropriate sex education: Children deserve information that helps them understand their bodies, set boundaries, and report abuse. Treatment and rehabilitation programs: Survivors need access to trauma-informed counseling, legal support, and healthcare. Perpetrators, particularly child offenders, must receive reformative guidance to stop the cycle of abuse. We must remember that CSV doesn’t discriminate by economic class, culture, or geography. It can happen anywhere, to any child. And until we take collective action, we remain complicit in the suffering. BY NABUNNYA GLORIA