13-Year-Old Trafficked from Mayuge, Tortured in Arua

The Police Child and Family Protection Unit in Arua is holding a 13-year-old boy who was allegedly trafficked to Arua from Mayuge district.

The boy identified as Mohamad Nkwanga, was today found with fresh injuries on his body and bloodstains on his clothing. He was wandering around, trying to find the route to Kampala by the time a good samaritan picked him and led him to Arua Central Police Station.

Nkwanga who only speaks Lusoga narrated that he was picked by a person only identified as Julius, who promised to find him a job. Nkwanga said that from Mayuge, they boarded a bus that took them to Kampala, where they boarded another bus with seven other young boys to Gulu and finally to Zoka forest in Adjumani District.

The children worked in Zoka Forest for one month. But Nkwanga was later taken to Arua where Julius handed him to his brother identified only as Moses, a chapatti maker who promised to pay him a chapatti every day and a monthly allowance of 10,000 Shillings.

However, on Wednesday, he was severely beaten by Moses and his wife after he asked for his payment for the two months he had worked for them. Nkwanga sustained bruises on his leg, chest, and back as a result of the beating by and ran to a neighbour who took him for medical attention at a Clinic.

//Cue in; Balie ba gambye…

Cue out... ba mu kuba kiboko."//

Jimmy Anguyo, the head of the Child and Family Protection Unit in West Nile said that the police have taken up the matter to ensure that the traffickers are brought to book. He said the offenders will be charged with aggravated child trafficking.

//Cue in; You bring a boy of…

Cue out... safely to Mayuge."//

Last week, a 13-year old girl from the Lira district was found at Odramacaku near the DR Congo border while looking for the road to Lira and brought to Arua Central Police Station. She was reportedly brought to work in Arua by a lady and later mistreated before being abandoned to go back to Lira.