Kampala, Uganda: A total of sixteen young children alleged to have been trafficked from Central Uganda parts aged between 6 and 17 years reportedly from Nansana, Kasubi, Kiboga, Kyengera, Kawaala, Kalerwe, and other parts of Kampala have been reunited with their parents.
It is alleged that these were found sharing a single room and were rescued from 30-year-old Deo Kivumbi, a resident of Kasubi Cell in Rubaga division, Kampala city who later was arrested on December 14th, 2022 from Kiryatete, a suburb of Hoima city after he was found with children comprising five boys and 11 girls. The child rented by Kivumbi in Kiryatete.
The genesis of Kivumbi’s trouble started after Everce Munguriek, the Kikuube District Worker’s representative found the children under the care of Kivumbi entertaining group gathered in Kiryatete. In suspicion, Muguriek asked Kivumbi to provide documents authorizing him to take charge of all the 16 children and he couldn’t
Security was then immediately alerted, arrested Kivumbi and rescued the children. Upon further interogation, Kivumbi explained that the parents of the children allowed him to stay with them and perform in different parts of the country to raise money for their school fees in the next year. However, his statements were uncoordinated prompting security to lock him up.
The children were taken to the child and family protection unit of Hoima city central police station for safe custody. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson said that the children were then transported to Kampala and reunited with their parents after a thorough screening exercise.
According to Hakiza, they coordinated with their counterparts at the police headquarters in Kampala to trace the parents of the children. He too explains that the suspect will be charged with human trafficking and child labour once police investigations are completed.
~Photo by URN