Obongi RDC Orders Immediate Anti-GBV Desk Amidst Alarming Defilement, Early Marriage Crisis.
By Okidi Patrick
OBONGI, UGANDA – In a decisive move to combat the escalating rates of defilement, early marriages, teenage pregnancies, and gender-based violence (GBV), the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Obongi, Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, has directed the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and District Police Commander (DPC) to immediately establish a special desk dedicated to these issues.
RDC Hashaka made the announcement while speaking as the chief guest at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in Obongi. He revealed a grim statistic: over 70% of pupils in Obongi drop out of school before reaching Primary Seven (P7) due to rampant defilement and early marriages.
“Police bond for defilers is an abomination and is not allowed,” Hashaka emphatically stated, outlining the stringent measures the new desk will enforce. He added that the special desk will meticulously follow up on all defilement cases to ensure justice for the victims. Furthermore, the RDC declared that men who assault their wives will also be denied police bond, and perpetrators of both defilement and spousal abuse will be publicly named and shamed.
The special desk is also set to feature toll-free lines, providing an accessible and confidential channel for reporting all cases of defilement and GBV.
Hashaka highlighted several “glaring and shameful” cases that underscore the urgency of the situation. These include the recent rape and sodomy of an 8-year-old girl by two men, and the case of a health assistant at Liwa Health Center II who allegedly defiled and impregnated a P7 girl from Liwa Primary School but was mysteriously released after being arrested by concerned citizens. The RDC also warned that defilers are increasingly attempting to manipulate their ages and reclassify defilement cases as “child sex” to evade justice.
The launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 2025, an event aimed at galvanizing community action, saw the participation of key stakeholders. The Head of Office UNHCR for Moyo and Obongi, and the Settlement Commandant of Palorinya Refugee Resettlement, Robert Andoeye, were present. Both officials condemned acts of gender-based violence and pledged their full cooperation with the Obongi RDC’s office in the relentless fight against this societal scourge.
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