Group photo of participants at the opening of the Anti- Human Trafficking Conference
Kampala. The Judiciary, members of Uganda's criminal justice system and the Civil Society on June 13-14, 2017, met in Kampala for a two-day conference under the theme "Justice for Victims - Accountability for Traffickers."
The conference, among other things, developed strategies and recommendations on howto best stop traffickers and care for the victims.
The Principal Judge, Hon. Justice Dr Yorokamu Bamwine, who opened the conference at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel said government has embarked on the drafting of a national action plan an nationwide awareness campaign on the trafficking pf persons.
He cautioned judicial officers not to fall prey to traps laid by human traffickers through swearing and uttering false affidavits in adoption and guardianship cases.
"Judicial officers may be contributing to the vice or otherwise. Even then, that gives no credit to us as an institution meant to protect those children," he said.
Ms. Rachel Bikhole, a Principal State Attorney in the Directorate of Public Prosecution said one of the challenges they experience in prosecuting human trafficking cases is that the definition of the offence under the Constitution is too long and not easily comprehensible, making it too hard for them to state the ingredients of the case and later prove them beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.
Ms. Bikhole said when the investigators fail to understand the substance of the case, they too are unable to thoroughly prove the case in courts of law.
She said the requirement by the Act to have the DPP to obtain written consent from the Attorney General before commencing the prosecution of an extra-territorial human trafficking offence is limiting since the Office of the Attorney General can sometimes politicize the issue.
One of the recommendations of the Conference is that Ugandan leaders, across the board, work to further improve victim services and increase resources toward trafficking efforts.
"Our hope is to unify leaders among police, prosecutors and judges to stop traffickers from harming victims," John Richmond, the founder Anti Human Trafficking Institute said.
He added, "Our hope is to unify leaders among police, prosecutors and judges to stop traffickers, and if the political will exists, trafficking in Uganda could be decimated."
In 2015, the government investigated 108 trafficking cases and reported 15 prosecutions with three convictions. The government also allocated funds for the first time to the Coordination Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons,which resulted greater public awareness of the issue.
The training was hosted by the Ugandan Judiciary, Willow International in partnership with the University of Pepperdine and The Human Trafficking Institute of the US.
Posted 13th, June 2017
