INVESTIGATIONS: 4 Mothers Accuse Gender Official Of Illegal Detention Of Their 15 Toddlers

By PATRICK JARAMOGI

Kampala, Uganda: Four Mothers are living in pain, amidst the absence of their children who were removed from them by a team of police officers and officials from the Ministry of Gender, seven months ago, on August 14^th, 2019.  Efforts to have the 15 children, some aged as young as 3 years reunited with their parents have hit a dead-end, despite clearance from police and courts of law.

Apparently the relevant authorities swung into action after receiving reports about some children whose rights were being infringed in Katale, Busawula Cell, Kikajjo Ward in Kyengera Town Council.

M/s Mukalazi Joanita, the Community Development Officer (CDO) said she acted following complaints from neighbors.

M/s Asinde Roselyn, one of the affected mothers told this news site that, on that fateful day (August 14^th, 2019), Mukalazi Joanita and a team of police officers attached to Nsangi Police Station and that from Kikajjo police post led by the OC CID Nsangi and officials from the Child and Family Protection Unit (CFPU) stormed their home and arrested her along with three other sisters: Josephine Zziwa, Shakira Wandera, and Adongo Carolyne. These were subsequently arrested on charges of child trafficking VIDE SD REF?38/14/08/2019 at Nsangi Police Station.

Police also took the 15 children who were present in the house in Nalumunye.

Findings

According to The Joanita Mukalazi, the Kyengera Community Development Officer, the four sisters, and mothers to the 15 children were residing all together in an incomplete house. “The mothers told me that the children were their biological children, but they didn’t have evidence to back these claims,” said Mukalazi.

The four mothers have since provided evidence attesting that the children are their biological off-springs.

The children were identified as Kwagala Anita, Kukiriza Sheila, Ester Rise, Kusasira Deborah aged 13 years, Namukisa Grace aged 15 years, Sharon Pamela aged 8 years, Daniella Winnie Biyinzika aged 11, and Kayille Natty.

Others included; Cool Elijah Calvin aged 8, Prince Aaron aged 8, Sanyu Rebecca aged 11, and Muwanguzi Ezekiel. Also in custody under the protection of the Gender Ministry are Murungi Praise aged 6, Murungi Amon and Tim Israel.

“When we rescued the children, whom we found living in squalid conditions, we asked the mothers to provide evidence that the children are theirs, and that they go to school,” said Mukalazi.

Zziwa Josephine, Adong Carolyne, and Asinde Roselyn are siblings, while Shakira Wandera, is their cousin. The three siblings are daughters to one retired civil servant, Damalie Oloka a resident of Kisaasi, a Kampala Suburb, in Nakawa Division.

“I don’t see why my grandchildren should continue to be held hostage yet the mothers are my biological daughters,” said Damalie.

Damali Oloka noted that her daughter Zziwa Josephine is mum to Kwagala Anita who is in Primary One, Kukiriza Sheila (P2), Bisoboka Sharon (P5), Biyinzika Winnie (P5), and Namukisa Grace (S4)

“Some of these grandchildren study nearby where I stay, at Kings Christian Academy in Kisaasi. They stay with me during school days, and go to stay with their mums on holidays,” said the granny. Efforts to confirm that the children study at Kings Christian Academy were futile due to the closure of the schools due to COVID-19.

M/s Roselyn Asinde, is mother to Elijah Calvin, Prince Aaron, Israel Tim, and Murungi Praise.

Adong Carol we established is mother to Natalia Midi who is in Primary 3, and Ester Rise, apparently the youngest (aged 2).  The fourth mum, Shakira Wandera has Muwanguzi Ezekiel, Murungi Amon, Ssanyu Rebecca and Kusasira Deborah as her biological children.

But the CDO Kyengera, Mukalazi Joanita said she decided to take custody of the children until the mothers were in a position to take “proper” control and care of the children. “The mothers had talked of having no husbands and no proper job to pay fees and rent, and there was also that aspect of investigating if they were indeed biological parents of the children,” she said.  “Even the house that we got the children staying belonged to a one Irene Harriet Namubiru who is currently staying in Norway.”

Mukalazi said he handed over the children to the Ministry of Gender who are currently taking care of the children.

Affected Mothers speak out

The mothers who are living a worried life, and in pain amidst the outbreak of confirmed COVID-19 said all their struggles, as single mothers to reunite with their children have hit a dead end. They, in particular, accuse a one Jane Stella Ogwang the Principle Probation & Welfare Officer in the Ministry of Gender of denying them their children.

In a letter to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development (MGLSD), Mr. Pius Bigirimana, dated 30^th September. In 2019, the four mothers appealed for the release of the incarcerated children.

Pius Bigirimana who ordered that action be taken noted that he was informed that seven (7) children were being hosted at the Naguru Reception Center, while the other eight (8) were taken to WILO (A children’s NGO) in Buziga.

We visited the two-child centers but were denied access due to the current COVID-19. The authorities, however, confirmed the presence of the children.

The mothers said they have since been barred from accessing their children whose conditions and state they described as very “appalling” and “pathetic”

“One of the kids is a special needs child who needs special care and special food, he also can’t be accessed by us, we need urgent help to have our children released and reunite with us,” said one mum.

The mothers said when they took the police report that cleared them and ordered that Gender releases the Children, Jane Stella Ogwang demanded for “fuel” to transport the kids home. “When we said we would transport them (children) in our cars, she instead barred us from accessing them,”

When contacted, Jane Stella Ogwang declined to comment.

Police Report Clears Mothers against the case of Child Trafficking

The Divisional CID officer attached at Nsangi Police Station, Detective/ASP Hope Jean Kayeny who carried out the investigations said the case of child trafficking vide (NSG CRB577/2019) against Zziwa Josephine, Adong Carol, Asinde Roselyn, and Shakira Wandera were duly investigated and cleared.

The Resident State Attorney, Nsangi advised that since the Nalumunye house was incomplete, the 15 children be released and handed over to G.W Oloka, and Ofwono Damali Oloka, the grandfather and grandmother respectively.

The RSA also ordered thus: “After establishing that the grandparents live in a better environment, that is conducive for the children, I advise that they be handed over to them and the case file be closed for lack of sufficient evidence.”

Watch this space………………………..