THE INJUSTICE // CHILD SACRIFICE

Police statistics indicate that of the average 3,000 children who disappear from their homes in Uganda annually, 200-300 are child sacrifice cases. In December 2008 alone, a total of 15 children were reported as victims of child sacrifice.

Child sacrifice is the ritualistic killing of children in order to please, propitiate or appease supernatural beings in order to achieve a desired result. As such, it is a form of human sacrifice. It is a ritual practice usually done by witch doctors whereby different parts of the body are cut off from humans and offered to these “Spirits” with the intention of getting a reward; many times money / wealth.

The reality is that many children reported as disappearance cases are actually victims of child sacrifice practices. However, this information is never brought to public notice. This reality, compounded by the fact that not all cases are actually reported to the police, makes it impossible to know the exact magnitude of the problem.

In the concluding remarks of the UNCRC report on Uganda 2005, committee members identified the absence of a comprehensive body of knowledge on the problem of child sacrifice as a major obstacle to fighting the vice.

Article 22 (1) of the 1995 Constitution of Republic of Uganda states that “no person shall be deprived of life intentionally.” Further, Section 188 of the Penal Code Act Cap. 120, creates the offense of murder for any person who intentionally causes the death of another person by an unlawful act. A child is by reason of Section 197 of the same Act deemed to be a person and therefore any person who unlawfully causes the death of a child is guilty of murder upon conviction by a competent court.

Article 6 (1) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Uganda is a party States that Parties shall recognize that every child has the inherent right to life.

Despite these international and national normative standards, Uganda continues to grapple with the challenge of protecting children against abuse, including the destructive practice of Child Sacrifice.

/ INVESTIGATIVE STATUS
Investigative trip scheduled. Occurring July 2009

/ OUR GOAL
We won’t stop journeying with this story until we see a decrease in the use of children in the ritualistic sacrifice.

/ MEDIA