I haven’t written on here for far too long, but seeing a report on the BBC last night acted as a stark reminder that Uganda is still struggling with the horrendous practise of child sacrifice. Struggling, that is, to do anything about it. The short report gave an insight into how the problem, that raised its ugly head around 3 years ago, is looking now. It’s doesn’t make for easy viewing. I am torn between feeling extremely glad that this is being highlighted in the western media again and feeling deeply saddened that there seems to have been such a lack of progression in the country since I produced a documentary on this exact subject 2 and a half years ago. Watch BBC report by Chris Rogers
If you have read any of this blog you’ll know that I covered this issue in 2009, I then went back a year later and screened my documentary to a large and influential audience. The Chief of the Ugandan police force was there, so was the head of the ‘human sacrifice task force’ (a body set up especially to deal with the influx of sacrificial killings). They were very receptive and positive, and I must admit that their fighting talk was impressive. But, as with any government, actions speak a lot louder than words. The latest figures from the Jubilee Campaign report says that over 900 children have fallen victim to sacrifice in the country, so the question has to be asked – exactly what kind of action is being taken here and with what kind of force?
Without going back to Uganda myself, it is difficult to pass judgement on whether there really has been any progress in tackling this horrible crime or not. Certainly this latest BBC report, my contacts on the ground in Uganda and my gut feeling, suggest that there has not.
