The South Kyoga Police Region is facing a distressing surge in sexual violence cases, with Serere District emerging as the most affected area. According to a report from the Regional Child and Family Protection Unit (CFPU) Officer, Serere recorded a staggering 222 cases from July to December 2025.
Alarmingly, between January and March 2026 alone, the district had already reported 83 cases, 32 of which involve teenagers, with projections indicating that the numbers could continue to rise.
AIP Jennifer Namaja, the Regional CFPU Officer for South Kyoga, Serere tops the districts in sexual violence, followed closely by Ngora, Bukedea, and Kumi.
She attributed the high incidence of cases in Serere to its proximity to landing sites, where fishermen allegedly exploit young girls by luring them with money earned from fishing activities.
“Sexual violence is becoming rampant in South Kyoga. The most affected district is Serere, followed by Ngora, Bukedea, then Kumi,” AIP Namaja stated.
Namaja has thus urged parents and guardians to be more vigilant, particularly as children are spending increasing amounts of time at home.“I call upon the people of South Kyoga to be keen now that children are at home for long hours,” she emphasized. “Let us take care of them, we should stop sending children around aimlessly and involve them in inappropriate activities.”
She warned against exposing children to risky environments such as video halls, markets, and late-night outings, which heighten their vulnerability to abuse.“Let us ensure that children do not move around at night or go to places like video halls and markets where they can easily be exploited,” she added.
AIP Namaja cautioned men against taking advantage of children by offering them small amounts of money in exchange for sexual favors, describing this practice as a serious violation of children’s rights.
Beyond sexual violence, the region grapples with a high incidence of domestic violence, with police recording an average of about 200 cases each month.
Authorities are now urging communities to unite in their efforts to protect children and to report all forms of abuse to the relevant offices. For as the situation continues to escalate, the need for community vigilance and intervention has never been more critical-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com.
