Three Karimojong Parents Arrested in Soroti Over Human Trafficking

Three Karimojong women accused of trafficking their own children have been arrested in Soroti town.    

  The suspects are part of the parents whose 13 children were intercepted last week while being ferried on a taxi registration number UBB 455D from Apeitolim trading centre in Napak district to Soroti.

Michael Odongo, the East Kyoga Region Police spokesperson confirmed the arrest of Anna Nakiria, Awasi Among and Tereza Ilukol, all residents of Lorunget village in Lopei Sub County in Napak district.

Odongo says the trio is being detained at Soroti Central Police Station pending their appearance before Soroti High Court on Friday.

“We shall produce them in court tomorrow. They are charged with aggravated trafficking of persons,” Odongo said.

According to Odongo, the arrest is in line with a resolution of a meeting held at Soroti Lukiiko hall with officials from Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development (MGLSD) through the department of youth and children’s affairs, Napak and Soroti.

Odongo states that during the meeting Jane Stella Ogwang, the principle probation and welfare officer in the department of youth and children’s affairs at the MGLSD halted the process of reuniting victims with their families, saying their parents must be arrested and prosecuted.  

In her submission, Ogwang argued that releasing the victims would jeopardize the ongoing investigations process. The children of aged between 5 and 15 were taken to Amecet child Development Centre in Soroti also known as youth with a mission.

Earlier, Josephine Ariong, the Senior Resident State prosecutor Soroti court circuit had advised that the responsible parties carry out thorough investigations to come up with clear evidence against the suspects to avoid losing the case in court.

By the time of filing this story, police had granted bond to Grace Asio, a resident of Asuret Sub County in Soroti. She was arrested on Saturday together with Richard Okileng, a driver of Achowa Sub County in Kapelebyong district and his conductor.

Asio was released because she looked sick.