Oyam Stakeholders Call for Stronger Action on Child Abuse

What the report says

Stakeholders in Oyam District, Uganda, have urged stronger and better coordinated action to prevent child abuse and neglect, saying the issue requires more than government intervention alone. The appeal came during the district’s quarterly probation and welfare meeting, which drew officials from the district administration, police, health services, the judiciary, development partners and cultural institutions.

Officials at the meeting said child protection must begin in families and extend to community leaders, religious figures and local institutions. Mark Obangkwon, the district assistant chief administrative officer, and Sandra Akello, the district probation and welfare officer, both emphasized shared responsibility and the need for more sensitisation on responsible parenting. Police representative Beatrice Akullu said authorities continue to handle cases of neglect and abuse, and called for closer cooperation so incidents are reported and addressed more quickly.

Cultural leaders also said they were ready to do more in their communities, while a World Vision representative noted that development partners are supporting child welfare programmes but need community involvement for lasting results. The discussion also exposed weak coordination, as only 12 people attended despite a wider invitation. Assistant Resident District Commissioner Patrick Ocen described that turnout as disappointing and urged stakeholders to treat child protection as urgent.

The meeting ended with a call to strengthen prevention, reporting, referral and response systems so children in Oyam can grow up in safer environments. More broadly, the report reflects a common child-protection challenge in Uganda and elsewhere: protecting children depends on coordinated action across families, state agencies and community structures.