A recent study has revealed that parents and guardians are the primary facilitators of child trafficking in Napak district, Uganda.
The findings indicate that many children are trafficked with the consent or influence of their own family members, primarily due to poverty and economic desperation.
The study, conducted by Panameet Africa, Women and Equal Opportunities Desk, and North-South Cooperation, with support from the Catholic Diocese of Moroto, found that 64.4% of trafficked children were convinced by their families to relocate to the streets of Kampala.
The research, titled “Child Trafficking in Uganda,” was carried out over a four-month period and revealed that 14% of children in Napak have experienced trafficking.
The findings, presented by Michael Tumwesigye, Executive Director of Panameet Africa, showed that 71.8% of parents and guardians were unwilling to stop child trafficking, with some viewing it as a survival strategy or a way to ease financial burdens.
The report highlighted various forms of exploitation, including forced labor, adoption, sexual exploitation, and organ trafficking.
Sr. Fernanda Cristinelli, Coordinator for the Women and Equal Opportunities Desk in the Moroto Catholic Diocese, noted that child trafficking has become normalized in Napak and is no longer widely regarded as an illegal act.
Traffickers often use deception, promising children a better life, education, and job opportunities to lure them into trafficking networks.
Sr. Mary Justine Naluggya, from the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparatrix-Ggogonya (IHMR), representing the Association of the Religious in Uganda (ARU), called for joint efforts between the government and religious institutions to implement effective programs aimed at preventing child trafficking.
She stressed the need for community sensitization and strong enforcement measures to combat the crisis.
Meanwhile, Agatha Atukunda from the Child and Protection Police Department raised concerns that child trafficking has become a national security issue.
She noted that some men in the district are not actively involved in family affairs, further worsening the vulnerability of children to trafficking.
With child trafficking deeply rooted in economic hardship and social neglect, stakeholders are urging the government, law enforcement, and community leaders to take urgent action to protect vulnerable children and dismantle trafficking networks in Napak and beyond.
By Ben Musanje
27th Mar, 2025
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