The Kampala Metropolitan Police has urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children’s safety during the ongoing school holiday, warning that many youngsters face hidden risks both inside and outside their homes.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said the holiday period often exposes children to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse — much of which goes unnoticed because many parents are too busy or unaware of the warning signs.
“These children go through a lot while at school. Let us create time with them so they can share their good and bad experiences. Encourage them to speak out instead of keeping secrets,” Kawala said.
She emphasized that defilement and child abuse frequently occur within homes, not just in isolated places, urging guardians to remain alert.
“Defilers and child abusers can be in your own home. We have cases where uncles defile children, even aunties. Both boys and girls can be victims,” she noted.
Kawala also cautioned parents about unsupervised access to televisions, social media, and mobile phones, saying that while children often use gadgets for homework and school projects, they can easily be exposed to harmful content.
She advised parents to dress children appropriately, saying some minors are made to look older than their age, which may attract predators.
The police spokesperson further criticized a growing trend where parents take their children to bars and nightclubs.
“Be exemplary. We have cases where parents go with their children to bars till morning. Let’s watch what we do in front of our children,” she warned.
Kawala also urged families to limit children’s unsupervised visits to neighbors, friends, or shops, noting that many abuse cases occur in such environments.
She concluded by appealing to parents to avoid leaving children unattended, stressing that their safety relies heavily on close supervision.
The police say they will continue sensitizing communities throughout the holiday to curb rising incidents of child abuse.
