North Police records 117 sexual offences

Police in Northern Province say they recorded a total of 117 sexual offence cases between March 2025 and March 2026.

Northern Province Deputy Commanding Officer, Charles Mbita, has disclosed in an interview with the media in Kasama that the cases include both defilement and rape.

Dr Mbita said the command in the province is saddened by the persistence of such offences, despite existing laws carrying severe punishment for perpetrators of vices.

“The penalty is very stiff, but people still continue to involve themselves in defilement cases. The maximum sentence ranges between 35 and 40 years imprisonment with hard labour, but still people go ahead to defile young girls,” he said.

He attributed the rising number of defilement cases in the province to among others harmful cultural practices and increasing levels of drug abuse among perpetrators.

Dr Mbita has since emphasized the need for parents to take responsibility for their children, stating that negligence has also contributed to the problem.

He explained that many recent cases involve children being abused by close relatives after being left in the care of other individuals.

“In some of the recent cases we have recorded, children are being defiled by their close relatives after being left in their care by their parents,” he said.

He further revealed that Kasama District is leading in the number of reported defilement cases, citing areas such as Chiba, Chisanga, Musenga, and Mukonge as some of the areas where such cases are prevalent.

Dr Mbita has disclosed that police has since intensified community sensitisation programmes aimed at educating the public on the dangers and consequences of defilement.

He noted that initiatives such as drama performances are being used to raise awareness and discourage would-be offenders.

He added that the police are also strengthening the Victim Support Unit to improve outreach and assistance to affected individuals.

He added that sensitisation has also contributed to a rise in the number of reported cases as more victims are now coming forward.

Meanwhile, Dr Mbita has warned against the tendency by some family members, particularly women, to shield perpetrators within their households.

“Women who defend their husbands when they are found defiling their own children should stop. Let the law take its course. Girl children must be protected at all costs,” he stressed.

He reiterated that the police will not withdraw any reported defilement or sexual offence cases, emphasising that all such matters will be pursued in accordance with the law.

And Abakashana Basambilile, a Non-Governmental Organization in Kasama that cares for women and girls, has reiterated its commitment to working with stakeholders to bring perpetrators to justice.

Organisation Programme Coordinator Cecilia Lesho has revealed that the organisation is working with the Department of Social Welfare, One-Stop Centres, the police, the Human Rights Commission, and the church, to also provide support to survivors of sexual abuse.

Ms Lesho he added that the organization conducts sensitisation programmes, including focus group discussions, targeting communities identified as hotspots for such cases.

Ms Lesho further disclosed that the organization is working with traditional leaders and training in collaboration with the police to strengthen community-level responses.

“We are working with different government departments in dealing these cases, we are there throughout the court process and we facilitate access to medical care through collaboration with the Ministry of Health,” she revealed.

She said the organization is also supporting educational opportunities for both girls and boys progressing to secondary school as part of efforts to address underlying vulnerabilities.

Ms Lesho noted that ongoing sensitisation efforts have led to an increase in the reporting of sexual offences as more community members are becoming aware of their rights and the importance of seeking justice.