A recent report from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), an online watchdog, reveals an alarming trend of paedophiles increasingly targeting children under the age of 10. The report, while not specific to Uganda, indicates that over 90% of child sexual abuse imagery available online is self-generated.
The IWF found self-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on 275,655 webpages last year featuring children under 10, marking an eight percent increase. Susie Hargreaves, CEO of IWF, suggests that the spike in findings may partly be due to improved detection rather than solely an escalation of incidents.
According to the IWF, some self-generated imagery involves children as young as three years old, and a fifth of it contains “category A” harm, denoting the most severe forms of sexual abuse. Hargreaves expressed concern, stating that imagery extorted or coerced from primary school-aged children is increasingly found on extreme, dedicated child sexual abuse sites.
Uganda, already grappling with a high prevalence of child sexual abuse, faces a critical issue. An Afrobarometer survey in June 2023 reported that 59% of women in Uganda experienced child sexual abuse. The government and partners have implemented mechanisms to address gender-based violence, including dedicated units within the Uganda Police Force.
During an annual cultural training camp organized by Buganda Queen Sylvia Nagginda, concerns about child sexual abuse were raised. Anonymous letters from camp attendees revealed distressing experiences, including a girl who endured rape by a teacher. The camp’s focus on nurturing youth and children with integrity underscores the need for comprehensive efforts to safeguard children from abuse.
