KAMPALA – The Police Spokesperson CP Fred Enanga has revealed that during the last three months of June to September 2019, a total of 25 major incidents/reportable offences were reported to police.
In a statement dated September 17, the Police spokesperson noted that there were 13 murder cases, five infanticide cases, two death fire cases, two suspected murder cases, one sudden death case, one kidnap and murder case and one rush and neglect cases as 32 juvenile lives were lost and 22 suspects arrested and charged to court.
According to Enanga, the Homicide department at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations that has a key role in the investigations of infant and child deaths noted that several incidents, of infants and children dying before they reach 12 years, are being registered.
“Children just like adults have a right to live and are also protected by the law. This requires public authorities to establish the cause of deaths, support the grieving parents and relatives and create interventions to prevent further deaths in children,” he said in a statement.
CP Enanga noted that the majority of the deaths occur as a result of natural causes, such as diseases, physical defects or incidents and one of the greatest challenges for dealing with suspicious deaths in children, particularly those in infancy, is often the covert nature.
“Despite the sanctions, as well as the education and awareness campaigns a small proportion of the deaths are caused deliberately by maliciously administered substances or by the careless use of drugs, neglect or maltreatment by carriers including parents and guardians,” Enanga said.
Adding that, “Although high profile cases capture a lot of media and public attention, education campaigns, do not impact on all people who kill children.”
“In particular, suspicions child deaths are often associated with significant social and domestic issues for parents or guardians, such as family misunderstandings, separation, divorce, alcohol, drug abuse, mental health issues, and previous history of violence,” Enanga noted.
He urged members of the community to always be vigilant and obtain as much information as possible in respect of the child’s history and the circumstances leading up to the child’s death.