The Directorate of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Kibuli Kampala in coordination with Greater Kiruhura police have arrested 5 people for conniving to kidnap, traffic and marry off a 17-year-old s.4 vacist (named withheld) preparing to join A’ level.
The suspects who are now facing offences of child kidnap, trafficking in persons and aggravated defilement include Napoleon Kanzira who wanted to marry her, John Kwetesa (Kanzira’s father), Sam Arinaitwe (Kanzira’s uncle), John Katera and his wife Janet Karuza (where both the girl and suspect were hiding).
The victim disappeared on February 10, 2023 prompting her parents to report a case of missing person at Nkungu Police Station in Kazo district before CID headquarters in Kampala was notified.
According to Uganda Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga, the victim has been rescued and is being managed by a team of experts from the Gender Unit at CID Headquarters in Kampala before being reunited with parents.
“As you are all aware, sex crimes against children and in particularly school goers is very disturbing. The suspect and his conspirators deliberately preyed on a vulnerable child, after abducing her in a cultural practice that is archaic, unconstitutional and violates the rights of a girl child. The practice puts the girl child at risks of sexual violence on their forced wedding night, draws them into premature motherhood and the pressure to bear children,” Enanga explained.
Preliminary investigations confirm that the victim was abducted by Kanzira with support from his father John. Authorities have now called on the public to fight sexual and gender-based violence-SGBV and report all related incidents in their communities.
