Tororo District Woman MP, Sarah Opendi, has renewed her call for the creation of a publicly accessible National Sex Offenders Register, urging government agencies, civil society organizations, and members of the public to support the initiative.
Opendi said that the creation of such a registry would be a significant step in
the fight against sexual violence in Uganda, serving as a deterrent to
potential offenders, both male and female, and enhancing public safety through
transparency and accountability.
“We
cannot continue to live in a country where sexual predators roam freely,
reoffending without consequences or public knowledge,” Opendi said. “A public
sex offenders’ registry would help in protecting our children, families, and
communities.”
She added that the proposed sex offenders’
registry should be made publicly accessible and widely known. According to her,
public awareness is key to its effectiveness, and individuals listed in the
registry should have their National Identification
Number (NIN) flagged or tagged accordingly.
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Celestine
Mugenyi, 22, a survivor of attempted sexual assault by her father while she
was in Senior Four, believes that a public sex offenders registry would play a
crucial role in protecting others from similar trauma. She argues that exposing
such individuals helps communities remain vigilant.
“If people like him were put on a public register,
those around them would be more cautious and better prepared to protect
themselves and others,”
Mugenyi said. “It’s not just about
punishment, it’s about preventing the next victim.”
The call comes as Parliament
continues to scrutinize the Sexual Offences Bill, first tabled last year and currently
at the committee stage. The bill, among other things, seeks to establish a National Sex
Offenders Register. Under Section 31, the National Identification and
Registration Authority (NIRA) would be mandated to manage the register, which
would contain details of individuals convicted of sexual offences.
The
information would include the offender’s name, national identification number (NIN),
date of birth, address, fingerprints, photograph, and the specific offence for
which they were convicted. According
to the bill, the offender's details must be recorded in the register upon
conviction, and the existence of an appeal does not prevent their registration.
In the event that a conviction is overturned, the court would be required to
notify NIRA within ten days so the registry can be updated accordingly.
Currently, Uganda maintains a
private sex offender registry, primarily documenting individuals convicted of
offences against children and persons with mental disabilities. However, this
information is not available to the public, a policy that many activists have argued
that it leaves communities unaware of repeat offenders in their midst.
In 2020, advocacy group
FemmePower Uganda launched a petition urging the government and Uganda Police
Force to establish a public sex offenders registry. The petition argued that
public access to this information would reduce repeat offences, empower
communities to take preventive measures, and ultimately create safer
environments for women and children.
A similar call was made in 2015 by the
East African Legislative Assembly, which proposed the creation of a regional
database to track and expose child sex offenders across member states.
The
urgency of such reforms is underscored by Uganda’s persistent struggle with
sexual violence.
The Uganda Police Crime Report of 2024 recorded 14,425
sex-related cases, representing 6.6% of all registered crimes in the country.
While this marked a 2.8% decrease from the 14,846 cases reported in 2023, the
numbers remain deeply concerning. A 2019 estimate revealed that about 13% of
Ugandan women, over one million annually, experience some form of sexual
assault.
Opendi noted that Uganda cannot afford to delay these reforms any longer. She is now
rallying fellow legislators, civil society organizations, and the general
public to support the Sexual Offences Bill, particularly the provision
establishing the sex offenders register.
“We
owe it to the next generation to build a safer, more accountable society. These registries serve not only to
inform the public but also to deter repeat offences and support safer
environments, especially for children, women, and vulnerable persons,”
she said.
Several
countries around the world have already established and made sex offenders
registries publicly accessible as a tool for both prevention and community
protection. For instance, in the United
States, the government operates a National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW), which allows the
public to search for registered sex offenders.
The platform displays detailed
information, including the offender's photograph,
name, physical description, offense details, and last known address both of residence
and employment.
