At the Mumwe Heart of God Foundation, our daily work is anchored in the
communities of Ntungamo District, where we witness firsthand information on
both the resilience of children and the scourge of violence that threatens their well-
being. Our grand mission is to create a protective environment where every child
can thrive and a critical component of this mission is understanding and navigating
the legal framework designed to shield them. While Uganda has made a significant
stride in establishing robust laws to protect children, the journey from legislation
on paper to protection in practice is fraught with challenges. This article explores
the national legal architecture against violence towards children and examines its
practical implementation within the unique context of Ntungamo District.

The National Legal Landscape: A Fortress of Rights on Paper
Uganda’s commitment to child protection is enshrined in a comprehensive legal
framework that aligns with international conventions like the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child (CRC). The cornerstone of this framework is The
Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (1995), which, under Article 34, mandates
that a child has the right to be protected from social or economic exploitation and
shall not be employed in or required to perform work that is likely to be hazardous
or harmful to their health, education, or physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social
development.
Building on this constitutional foundation is The Children Act (Cap 59), the
principal legislation governing child welfare and protection, this Act is a landmark
piece of legislation that defines a child as any person below the age of eighteen. It
criminalizes various forms of abuse, including child labor, child marriage, and
female genital mutilation. Crucially, it establishes structures for implementation,
such as the Local Council Courts and the role of Probation and Social Welfare
Officers at the district level, who are tasked with handling child protection cases.

Complementing the Children Act are other critical statutes like, The Penal Code
Act cap 128 criminalizes specific offenses like defilement, assault, kidnapping, and
child trafficking, providing the punitive arm of the justice system. The Domestic
Violence Act (2010) extends protection into the home, recognizing that many
children suffer violence within the family unit and providing for protection orders.
Furthermore, The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (2010) and The
Prevention and Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Act (2009) address specific,
egregious forms of violence and exploitation. Collectively, these laws create a
formidable legal fortress intended to safeguard the rights and safety of Uganda’s
children.

The Ntungamo Case Study: When Law Meets Reality
Ntungamo District, with its vibrant communities and agricultural economy, is a
microcosm of the challenges faced in translating national law into local action and
in our work here, the Mumwe Heart of God Foundation has identified a persistent
gap between the law’s intent and its impact. The forms of violence we encounter
are multifaceted: child labor in tea plantations and cattle herding, domestic
violence that leaves children traumatized, early marriages driven by poverty and
tradition, and cases of defilement that often go unreported.
The primary challenge is a profound lack of awareness. Many community
members, including parents and even some local leaders, are not fully acquainted
with the specifics of the Children Act or the criminality of certain cultural
practices. Corporal punishment, for instance, it remains a widely accepted form of
discipline, despite legal prohibitions against cruel treatment of which this
ignorance is compounded by deeply entrenched cultural norms that often prioritize
community harmony or family reputation over a child’s right to justice. Issues like
defilement are frequently settled “in-house,” denying the victim access to formal
justice and medical care.

Furthermore, systemic resource constraints tend to cripple the protective structures
where by the police may lack the transport to promptly investigate reports from
remote villages. Probation and Social Welfare Officers are often overburdened,
covering vast areas with limited resources, making it difficult to provide adequate
follow-up on cases. The formal court system can be intimidating, slow, and
inaccessible for many families, leading them to abandon the pursuit of justice.

Poverty, too, is a driver of violence, pushing families to send their children to work
instead of school or to marry off their daughters for economic relief.

The Role of Mumwe Heart of God Foundation: Building the Bridge and
Recognizing these implementation gaps, the Mumwe Heart of God Foundation has
positioned itself as a crucial bridge between the law and the community. Our
approach is multifaceted and rooted in collaboration.
Firstly, we conduct community sensitization and advocacy. We translate the
complex language of the law into practical, understandable messages delivered in
local languages like Runyankole, through school outreach programs, community
dialogues (barazas), and engagements with religious and cultural leaders, we
challenge the harmful norms and educate citizens about their rights and
responsibilities under the law.
Secondly, we focus on capacity building. We train Local Council (LC) officials,
who are the first point of contact for many disputes, on how to properly handle
child protection cases in line with the Children Act whereby we empower Village
Health Teams (VHTs) and teachers to identify signs of abuse and understand the
proper referral pathways, ensuring that cases are reported to the correct authorities.
Thirdly, we facilitate referral and support especially when a case is identified, our
social workers walk alongside the victim and their family, guiding them through
the process of reporting to the police, connecting them with probation officers, and
offering psychosocial support. We also help demystify the justice system and
ensure that the rights afforded to children by law are not only actively claimed but
also protected. We also support the establishment and functionality of Community
Child Protection Committees, as mandated by the Children Act, to create a
sustainable, community-owned safety net.

Conclusion: A Collective Responsibility
Uganda’s legal framework on violence against children is one of the most
progressive in the region. However, as our experience in Ntungamo District shows,
a law is only as strong as its implementation. The chasm between policy and reality
can only be bridged through a concerted, multi-stakeholder effort. At the Mumwe
Heart of God Foundation, we are committed to being a vital part of this effort, transforming legal protections into lived realities for the children we serve. The
journey is long, but with continued community empowerment, support for
overstretched government structures, and unwavering advocacy, we can build a
district, and indeed a nation, where every child is safe, valued, and free from
violence.

To sponsor a child through a collective action you can reach us via our [email protected] or call 256700135510