High Court Judge Yasin Nyanzi has decried the high cases of sexual offenses against underage girls in the Acholi sub region.
Nyanzi says the victims are usually helpless children who are left in excruciating pain after being subjected to sexual intercourse by male adults. He said the older men are exposing young girls to sexually transmitted diseases.
The judge made the remarks on Friday last week during a High Court special criminal session in Gulu.
In the court session, justice Nyanzi disposed off 13 cases of murder, 4 cases of rape and 22 cases of defilement, some involving girls as young as 6 years. Law enforcement officers and HIV positive adult males were among those convicted for defilement.
Lady Justice Margret Mutonyi, the Gulu High Court resident judge revealed that in the past one year, she has dropped 234 cases of aggravated defilement because of the failure by the prosecution to produce witnesses. The judge further pointed out that because of the traumatic experiences suffered, girls often do not want to testify in court against the suspects forcing her to dismiss the cases.
Mutonyi said that although there is no more war in northern Uganda, the region remains one of the most unsafe for young girls.
Walter Ladwar, an advocate, said children have become either young offenders or victims of capital crimes.
James Kaboggoza- Ssembatya, the Assistant Commissioner Children and Youth in the Gender, Labour and Social Development Ministry said the government is aware of the challenges children in the north are facing and that the problem will be addressed once cabinet approves a plan specifically for the region. He revealed that after carrying out a consultation in 2014 in northern Uganda, his ministry drafted a strategy that is waiting approval and resources before implementation.
By James Owich
