Police in the Eastern Province have called for more efforts toward child protection after a man in Gatsibo District was arrested for allegedly defiling a three-year-old girl. Samuel Temahagari, 18, is said to have defiled the girl on Monday at his home. “The suspect was alone at home when the child wandered into his house in the afternoon. Preliminary investigations indicate that this is the time the suspect committed the crime,” Eastern region Police Spokesperson, Inspector of Police Emmanuel Kayigi, said. “When the child went back home, her parents noticed that she was dizzy and on checking her, they realised that she had been defiled. They immediately reported to Police and as part of the investigations, we took the child to Kiziguro Hospital and medical results confirmed that there was penetration,” he added. According to IP Kayigi, the suspect confessed to the crime and is currently held at Kiramuruzi Police Station. Defilement attracts life imprisonment on conviction under Article 191 of the Penal Code. “Parents and guardians should protect their children at all time,” Kayigi said. “Timely information must always be availed to Police so that we gather evidence before it is tampered with. Parents should also learn to break silence and report such inhuman acts so that justice is served to culprits and victims rehabilitated.” Police established a toll free number – 3512 – where information from the public concerning sexual and gender-related crimes can be reported. The anti-GBV and Child Protection Directorate advises victims against immediately showering after sexual abuse as it erases evidence. The victim must first see a doctor in order to provide evidence against the accused. Although sexual and gender-related crimes have decreased tremendously, Police statistics indicate that they are still among the major crimes committed in the country. According to figures from the RNP, a total of 3,127 cases of defilement were registered between 2012 and 2013. At least 325 cases of rape were also recorded in the same period.
