THE EFFECT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT BY UGANDA POLICE FORCE ON CHILD ABUSE REDUCTION IN KAMPALA METROPOLITAN POLICE NORTH

Abstract

The study examined the effect of law enforcement by the Uganda Police on child abuse reduction in Kampala Metropolitan North. Specific objectives included establishing the effect of detective role, examining the effect of prevention role and establishing the effect of response function on child abuse reduction. A cross sectional research design was used supplemented by both qualitative and quantitative approaches. An accessible population of 106 elements was identified from which a sample size of 98 respondents was drawn. A response rate of 64% was obtained. Key findings include: a positive relationship between detective role (.476**), preventive role (.221**) and response function (.296**). Findings of the study revealed that detective role; preventive role and response role affect child abuse reduction. The researcher concluded that detective role; preventive role and response role had positive relationship with child abuse reduction. The study recommended that KMPN management together with Criminal Intelligence & Investigation Department and Community Liaison Unit should ensure that they engage more community members and their local leaders in the elicitation of factual and reliable information about law breakers as this will ensure that evidence on the crimes they committed is provided and based on such culprits are identified, arrested and prosecuted in the Courts of Law; KMPN management together with the local leaders should ensure that both informal and formal means of communication to community members are adhered to by Police to ensure that training on child abuse prevention is re-laid to the community; and KMPN management together with its Research and Planning directorate should review the existing budget on crime intelligence investigations. This will ensure that more funds are made available and allocated to the information fund.