Archbishop Kaziimba calls for repentance amid increasing incest

The Church of Uganda -CoU Archbishop Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu has criticized the rampant cases of incest around the country, calling for repentance.

“There are fathers, uncles, and cousin brothers in our families who have defiled their daughters and sisters, impregnated them. This is one of the most discouraging pieces of news I have heard in a long time,” Kaziimba said.

He asked the girls who have fallen victims and are now mothers to turn to “God because He loves you, and he loves your baby”.

Dr. Kaziimba was delivering his Easter message at All Saints’ Cathedral Nakasero Wednesday morning.

He appealed to the perpetrators to come out and confess the shameful act instead of trying to protect themselves from shame.

Recent statistics issued by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development indicate that cases of fathers defiling their daughters had more than doubled in the last year.  

According to the statistics, 200 of the 1,682 cases of defilement registered in 2020 through the Ministry’s child helpline were committed by fathers against their own daughters.  This is an increase from 90 cases reported in 2019. The Ministry also registered 175 complaints of defilement and sexual abuse involving immediate family members like brothers, uncles, grandparents, stepfathers, aunts and others.

The Archbishop also appealed to the government to further relax the Covid-19 preventive measures and allow children to attend church for at least one hour, saying that the young generation has faced a lot of challenges and abuses.  

“I encourage the government to lift the restrictions on children coming to church. Just as children are returning to school, the church is very ready to receive our children for only one hour per week in an organized way that upholds the Standard Operating Procedures -SOPs. Our children need to be in church with their families,” the Archbishop appealed.  

Dr. Kaziimba however said that he was grateful that this year’s Easter comes at a time when some Christians are allowed to gather in their church buildings to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.