By Kaleb Yiiki

Arua city

Arua   central division   council has passed   the   child   sexual    abuse and   exploitation   by-law 2023 sponsored by the Federation of female Lawyers in Uganda (FIDA) Uganda.
 
The child Sexual abuse and  exploitation   by-law, seeks to regulate  child  rights  stakeholders  in  the  protection  of  children,  promote child  development  protection and  survival  rights,  develop systematic  reporting  channel, establish  registry  at division  level  for  children   for the  protection   of   their  survival, development and participation rights and prescribe penalties for non-compliance.
 
Ivan Sukuru is the LCI Chairman Bibia Cell and says the situation of child criminality in his cell is getting very higher every day and in recent years it was getting downs. “These days if you go to Lobidra market in Arua City, that is the place where you will get the highest area of criminality only for children.” he confirms.

 
Ivan Sukuru explaining the child criminality situation in his Cell
 
Two currency points has been prescribed as one of the penalties by the child Sexual abuse and exploitation   by-law. This is converted to a total fine of 40,000 Ugandan Shillings for each currency point whose cost is at 20,000 Ugandan Shillings.
 
However, this penalty seems to not go well with some of the council members as testified by one of the Councilor representing elders. “I imagine that the two currency points have been there for some time up to now. What is 40,000 Ugandan Shillings for somebody like me? Where you can punish a child in any way knowing that it is 40,000 Ugandan Shillings? If it was not to be suppressed by some law above us, I would say that this penalty money is too little” he recommends.  

 
Councillor for Elders advocating for heavier punishment
 
Fred Abibo Arowa, the consultant who developed the Bill explains that for serial offenders of child Sexual abuse and exploitation, the mother law will be invoked. And that those who think they will just pay 40,000 Ugandan Shillings as a penalty of abuse of children will attract the wrath of the law as they will be considered by the Court as Serial Offenders.

He also interpreted the clause in the by-law on section seven subsection b) which states that “subject to the section 3 of the Children’s Act (as amended), all cases relating to children shall be resolved on the best interest of the Child:” “When they talk about the best interest of a child, we are talking about an interest that can achieve the four rights of survival, development, protection, anything   apart from that now becomes child abuse.” he explained
 
Fadimula Abdu the secretary social services in Arua city says the by-law gives her powers to start fighting people who abuse the rights of the Children in Arua City. He cited a point in case where the playground is being used by China seventh group A Chinese Construction Company that took over the playground temporarily while constructing the school Road in Arua City and up-to-date, have refused to hand over the suite back to Arua Prisons primary school and without providing an alternative field for the children. “This by-law has also given me power, the security of education and I want to pledge as a leader that we are going to own it because this is the first by-law which is going to be approved by this central division.” she appreciated.
 
 
The Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Ayivu Division Jonah Godfrey Mbigiti advised  men,  who separate with their wives or those who just produced children with other women which, they refer sometimes as  accidental children that,   that  accident  does  not  give them the permission to ignore  what they have  produced. “Provide for that child. Government has put up schools and they are on international level, and has also put up infrastructure and we believe that as government, we have done our part. So this law has come up timely.” he said.
 
 
DRCC Jonah Godfrey Mbigiti advising men

Osuga Rasul the Speaker Arua central division   council has castigated the parents in Arua central Division for abdicating their parental roles. “I have learnt with profound disgrace that the issue of parenting nowadays is a very serious thing in the central division and most of us parents don’t know what parenting is, after this by-law is blessed by parliament of Uganda we shall be able to understand what parenting is and the moment you fail in your role as parent, we shall come for you.” he cautioned.

COVER PHOTO: Osuga Rasul (in maroon Coat) Chairing the discussions on the by-law By Kaleb Yiiki