By KT Reporter
In a move to confront a painful history of child abuse in Catholic institutions, the Archdiocese of Kampala has launched a binding Child Safeguarding Policy. The new policy, unveiled by Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel on Wednesday afternoon, sets uniform protection standards across all church schools, parishes, and child-serving institutions within the archdiocese. Archbishop Ssemogerere said the church intends to strengthen child protection, recognize abuses when they occur, establish reporting systems, and ensure appropriate responses.
The policy comes amid public outrage over repeated reports of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in Catholic schools and church-run facilities, including corporal punishment. One notable case occurred in August in Moroto District, where parents reported that their 14-year-old son had been repeatedly sodomized at the church-run Child Jesus Primary School.
After demanding justice, the family received threats from community members and church officials. According to URN reports, the headteacher, a nun, was recorded telling the boy’s mother to “go slow” and warning her not to tarnish the image of the church. She allegedly added that if the abuse happened several times, the child must have liked it.
Police subsequently arrested the nun, the school warden, and another suspect. The case has become a flashpoint highlighting a larger pattern of abuse and institutional cover-ups that survivors and advocates say has persisted for decades. Similar complaints have emerged across multiple dioceses. Years ago, Fr. Anthony Musaala, temporarily suspended, publicly revealed that altar servers and other children in parishes were being sexually exploited by clergy and religious personnel. In Kabale Diocese, community leaders have repeatedly raised alarms about vulnerable and orphaned children being subjected to hard labor on church-run farms. These cases demonstrate a pattern that survivors and advocates describe as long-standing. Families seeking justice often face intimidation, pressure from parish leaders, or community hostility, leading many to abandon their complaints.
The wider Catholic Church has responded with updated Vatican guidelines. Early directives issued under Popes Paul VI and John Paul II were strengthened by 2019 instructions from Pope Francis. The new rules require dioceses to establish clear systems for safeguarding children, reporting abuse, and protecting whistleblowers. Speaking at the launch, Fr. Dr. Ronald Kigozi, head of the Archdiocese’s Child Safeguarding and Protection Department, said the policy is designed to end the culture of silence that has shielded abusers for generations. “This policy will create safe environments for children, rebuild shattered trust, and ensure abuse can no longer be hidden,” Fr. Kigozi said.
Key features of the policy include compulsory training for priests, religious personnel, catechists, and teachers on current child protection standards. Each school, parish, and institution will appoint a designated safeguarding officer. The policy sets clear reporting channels for abuse allegations, provides for awareness activities, and requires periodic audits, with a full review after three years.
Fr. Dr. Kigozi said the policy aims to prevent abuse, detect incidents early, and ensure reporting at all levels. “Each unit and institution will appoint a safeguarding officer responsible for receiving complaints and triggering a response from church authorities,” he said. He added that the policy includes internal procedures and penalties under church canon law. The Archdiocese also plans to collaborate with state child welfare agencies and police to support independent investigations and, where necessary, criminal proceedings.
Prof. Patrick Edrin Kyamanywa, Vice-Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University and member of several school boards, said the policy comes at a time when vulnerable children require stronger protection. “Past cases have often been handled in secrecy, with some victims facing intimidation. A clear safeguarding system is necessary for addressing harm and preventing future incidents,” Prof. Kyamanywa said.
Joseph Kawuma Ddamulira, headteacher of St. Augustine’s College, Wakiso, noted that the policy will greatly improve safety in Catholic schools and restore parents’ confidence.
However, Prof. Anthony Muwanga Muggaga, seasoned educationist and Principal of the College of Education and External Studies at Makerere University, challenged the Church, saying that drafting an internal document is one thing, but implementing and adhering to it is another. He called for strong systems to ensure the policy is fully enforced.
In 2019, Pope Francis issued global directives on child safeguarding under You Are the Light of the World. The document required every diocese to establish public, accessible reporting systems, complete investigations within 90 days, and hold bishops accountable for failures or cover-ups. It also protected victims and whistleblowers from retaliation.
Clergy were instructed to report suspicions to church authorities and, where required by law, to civil authorities. The reforms followed major abuse scandals in countries such as the United States and Ireland and pushed dioceses worldwide toward a zero-tolerance approach and closer cooperation with state agencies.
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