Female legislators under their umbrella group - the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) have demanded that government investigates several high profile cases of sexual offences immediately.
The development comes weeks after reports emerged implicating the late Prof. Lawrence Mukiibi, the former Director of St. Lawrence Schools and Colleges for fathering babies with his former students.
Speaking to the Parliamentary press on Thursday, Monica Amoding, the UWOPA Chairperson condemned the conduct of the late Prof. Mukiibi and called for immediate investigations to document the cases of sexual abuse and provide for the widows and children he left behind.
She also said there is need to sanction all those implicated for sexual abuse to deter other would be offenders.
The MPs also want the Education and Sports Ministry to explain when it intends to institute mechanisms and police to safeguard the rights of young women and girls in schools from being abused by persons in authority.
Yesterday, we reported how Aggrey David Kibenge, the Under Secretary in the Education Ministry, said they lack a mechanism to stop sexual abuse by teachers in schools, since they can't know what is happening in all schools across the country.
He said the Education Service Commission can only start disciplinary measures against such teachers once they have been charged or prosecuted by the law. UWOPA wants parliament to expedite the approval of the sexual offenses bill to clearly streamline action against cases of sexual violence.
According to Amoding, various laws that shield women against violence and exploitation have been rendered irrelevant as victims continue to suffer. UWOPA's statement was endorsed by Tina Musuya, the Executive Director of Center for Domestic Violence Prevention.
According to the Penal Code of Uganda, any person who performs a sexual act with another person below the age of 18 years, commits a felony and is on conviction liable to life imprisonment.
