GIRLS IN FORT PORTAL TOURISM CITY AND KABAROLE DISTRICT CRY OUT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL ABUSE FROM OLD MEN AND BODA BODA RIDERS
BY KAJUMBA GORRET
Today 11th October Ugandans joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child. This year’s commemoration was under the theme “Digital generation, our generation”, celebrations held at Bukuku primary school in North division, Fort portal tourism city.
Tuhaise Abisemeza a senior three student at Kahinju secondary school in Fort portal tourism city, Kobusinge Rachael also a student said that in this prolonged closure of schools they have faced a challenge of old men harassing them in communities and Boda Boda riders harass them using the chance of giving them rides or lifts in turn of sex.
They revealed that they have tried to report to their parents so as to find a solution but nothing has been done to these old men and Boda Boda riders who deceive with cheap things after abuse them sexually and harass us.
According to Nyangoma Triton coordinator freedom for girls a nongovernmental organization that focuses on finding solutions for menstruation poverty in girls, growing girls have been turned into sexual objects as they are abused, harassed to the extent of parents forcing their young girls into marriage in order to get money.
These cases of early marriage are common in sub-counties of Harugongo, Karangura of Kabarole district.
“Stupid men who have nothing in the brain going for young girls for sex is very painful says Nyangoma”
Nyangoma asked the government, law enforcers, and other authorities to always give attention to these cases of sexual abuse and harassment and charge these people so as to end these cases in communities.
Kyakusimire Annet a professional counselor, a mother, and project coordinator working with freedom for girls said that parents need to surrender their children to God who can see beyond human eyes because they cannot move with them everywhere but when they are spiritually strong and believe that God can see them everywhere this is going to help them to have fear in their heart and respect their parents.
Kyakusimire revealed that digitalization of everything has spoiled children mostly this period of lockdown when learning has been digitalized children put parents under pressure to buy for them smartphones and laptops of which they use to search and access pornography.
Komuhimbo Agnes working with Twerwaneho Orphans community initiative [TOCI] has tried to intervene to help girl child, they have handled and followed 20 cases since the year begun in sub-counties of Karangura and Bukuku among those 11 cases were sexual abuse.
She revealed that parents do not provide the needs of girls and there is also a challenge of inadequate access to basic needs like having enough meals a day, most families have one or two meals a day.
However, parents disclosed that although they are putting blame on them, children do not listen to their parent’s advice as they decide to take their own ways.