Speaking to the media after the training, Rogers Taitika, the Elgon Region Police Spokesperson, highlighted its purpose: equipping officers with the knowledge to handle cases involving children more effectively.
District police commanders, officers from the Children and Family Protection Unit, and regional police commanders have completed a two-day training on child protection laws.
The training, held from Tuesday to Wednesday, was conducted at Courts View Hotel in Mbale City. It was facilitated by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba, officers from the Child and Family Protection Unit at the national police headquarters, and representatives from UNICEF.
Speaking to the media after the training, Rogers Taitika, the Elgon Region Police Spokesperson, highlighted its purpose: equipping officers with the knowledge to handle cases involving children more effectively.
"The aim is to reduce the number of children in juvenile prisons by handling some cases at lower levels before they escalate to court," Taitika explained.
He emphasized that imprisonment can cause psychological trauma to children, amounting to a violation of their rights.
Taitika noted that the trained officers would return to their respective regions and districts to share the knowledge gained with their colleagues. This approach aims to create a ripple effect in building capacity for child protection across the police force.
//Cue in: "Ne basilikale okuva..."
Cue out: "...babatwala mukomela,"//
By empowering officers with child protection laws, the police hope to address the challenges faced by children and ensure their rights are safeguarded while minimizing the number of minors in the justice system.
Weswa Ronnie
Freelancer