Kadaga decries child trafficking

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has commended good samaritans who have offered help to children whose rights are taken advantage of and has committed to support proposals to tackle the issue.

The Speaker made the remarks while meeting with caretakers of four children who had been allegedly brutalised by a one Edison Asiimwe, a purported pastor.

The children were presented before the Speaker by Godfrey Obore, the LC1 Mutungo Zone 4 and Constant Etukot, a resident of Mutungo, who has since taken care of the children after being rescued from Asiimwe.

“In Kampala, everyone does their own business; so I want to thank Etukot and his wife for supporting these children,” Kadaga said.

The caretakers were accompanied to the meeting by Hon. Okupa Elijah (FDC, Kasilo County), Hon. David Abala (NRM, Ngora Country) and Hon. Silas Aogon (Indep, Kumi Municipality).

Kadaga commended Obore for seeking justice for the children, and committed to support them in bringing the culprits to book.

“I will work with the IGP and Grace Akullo so that this case is wrapped up and see to it that the whole racket is broken,” added Kadaga.

Okupa noted that Police in Mutungo had mishandled the case reported to them saying, “What the Police has done is unacceptable; they released these children and left the Pastor to go back with two other girls.”

Hon. Abala said he received information on the case from the former State Minister for Teso Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister, Christine Amongin Aporu.

“Former State Minister Amongin told me about how these children were being used by the pastor to get support for himself, and this raised my concerns,” said Abala.

Constant Etukot, the current caretaker of the children, said he was informed by neighbours that the children picked food from trashcans whenever they went to fetch water at a well in the area.

“When I interviewed the children, they told me that they used to eat once a day, and would sleep with their feet tied,” Etukot said.

Godfrey Obore noted that the mishandled report on the matter at Mutungo Police had not been recorded.

“I request that these officers not only be investigated, but also transferred so as to improve the work ethics at the Police station,” Obore said.

He also prayed that the girls taken by Asiimwe be medically re-examined by different medical personnel so as to give more weight to the case.

It is reported that 31-year-old Edison Asiimwe posed as a Bishop and upon setting up churches in Teso, convinced unsuspecting parents to send their children to him for a better life in Kampala.

Asiiwme is currently detained at Jinja Road Police station.