Police in Kampala have issued strict warning to any parent or guardian caught subjecting children to corporal punishment during the holiday period, an act ‘illegal and punishable by law.’
Police spokesperson Michael Kananura during the weekly security presser on 18th August, 2025 said cases of children being beaten and abused at home are still on the rise, evidenced in several videos shared online.
“People have failed to come to terms with the law which says corporal punishment is prohibited,” Kananura noted.
He explained that handling such cases remains a challenge for law enforcement, especially when the suspects are family breadwinners.
According to the spokesperson, arresting these people often puts families under pressure to seek their release, creating conflict between protecting victims and maintaining family stability.
Kananura raised a concern that some parents attempt to influence the handling of child abuse cases, especially defilement, by pushing for their withdrawal. He warned that such decisions are not within parents’ rights.
“When a child is defiled, it is not within the spaces and freedoms of parents to determine whether the matter should be withdrawn. If it is an offense against the child, the process must be followed logically up to its conclusion,” he said.
The Police said they will continue to register such cases and ensure they are prosecuted and apprehend attempts to shield perpetrators will not be tolerated.
