Police in Wakiso District have rescued 18 children who were found living in a dilapidated house under suspicious circumstances in Kakunyu Village, Wakiso Town Council, and arrested two suspects over alleged child trafficking.
The rescued children, aged between three and 12 years, include nine boys and nine girls.
Addressing journalists at Police Headquarters in Naguru on Monday, Police spokesperson ACP Rusoke Kituuma said the operation followed information received by officers at Namusera Police Post from local council leaders who raised concerns over an unusually high number of children staying in one house.
“Namusera Police Post received information from members of the local council in Kakunyu Village that a house in their area was accommodating an unusually large number of young children estimated to be between three years and 12 years of age,” Kituuma said.
He said police, working alongside local leaders and residents, immediately launched an operation at the premises.
“Eighteen juveniles, nine boys and nine girls, were found living in two dilapidated rooms under suspicious conditions,” Kituuma said.
Police arrested two suspects identified as George Mulindwa, 33, a teacher by profession, and Madinah Babirye, 24, a casual worker.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the children may have been transported from Luwero and Masindi districts under unclear circumstances.
“It is alleged that the children had been transported from Luwero and Masindi districts under unclear circumstances. We managed to apprehend two suspects and they are currently in our custody as we carry out further investigations,” Kituuma said.
Police said the rescued children remain under their care as efforts continue to trace their families and establish the circumstances under which they ended up in Wakiso.
“The children are still with us, except if further administrative action has been taken because we usually look out for their homes and support children who find themselves in such a predicament,” Kituuma added.
Kituuma condemned child trafficking and exploitation, saying authorities were investigating why such a large number of children were being kept in the facility under unexplained conditions.
“We strongly condemn and warn individuals against engaging in any form of child trafficking and exploitation. We need to know why children were in such numbers in such a place in a very unexplained manner,” he said.
He commended local leaders and residents for alerting authorities, noting that community vigilance remains critical in protecting children.
“The effective enforcement of laws requires collaboration between local leaders and citizens. Once the local council reached us, it didn’t take a lot of time. We had already surrounded the area and rescued the children,” Kituuma said.
Police appealed to parents and guardians from Luwero and Masindi who may have handed over their children under unclear arrangements to report to the nearest police station to help facilitate reunification.
Kituuma said investigations into the matter are ongoing.
