By Hillary Opio Omara

OYAM DISTRICT - Police in Loro Sub-county,Oyam District, have intensified efforts to combat child marriage and other forms of violence against women and children.

The Officer in Charge of Loro Police Station, Jimro Oselle,said parents who marry off children below the age of 18 will face the full force of the law.

Oselle made the remarks during a community dialogue organised by Redeem International to discuss and address challenges affecting women and children in the Lango Sub-region.The meeting was held at Loro Army Primary School in Loro Sub-county,Oyam District.

He said police had received numerous reports of parents in Loro Sub-county and Loro Town Council forcing or allowing children below the age of 18 to enter into marriage.

“We are warning all parents involved in marrying off underage girls and boys that such acts are illegal and those responsible will be arrested and prosecuted,”Oselle said.

He revealed that police and other stakeholders are planning to conduct community engagements across Loro Sub-county and Loro Town Council to educate parents about their responsibility to protect children.

The awareness campaigns will encourage parents to keep their children in school, support them to grow into responsible adults and protect them from harmful practices,including drug and alcohol abuse.

Oselle also revealed that police were investigating a case involving a 60-year-old woman who is alleged to be keeping a 16-year-old boy in her home.

He said efforts were underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the case and take appropriate action.

According to the police officer,cases of violence against women and children,as well as child marriages involving both girls and boys,remain a major concern in the area.

He pledged that the police would work with local leaders and community members to ensure that the matters is eliminated.

Meanwhile,the Community Liaison Officer for Oyam District,Hellen Okwonga,raised concern over the increasing cases of land grabbing involving widows and orphans.

Okwonga said communities across Lango must work together to protect widows and orphans from people attempting to deprive them of their land and other property.

She said authorities had also received reports of domestic violence,theft,alcohol and drug abuse,among other crimes affecting communities in Loro Sub-county and Loro Town Council.

Okwonga urged residents not to remain silent when they witness cases of abuse, land grabbing or violations of the rights of women and children.

“Community members should report these cases to the relevant local leaders or directly to the police so that immediate action can be taken,”she said.

The Community Development Officer for Loro Sub-county,Christine Ngana,advised women to be cautious when entering relationships after their men died,saying some men have in tension in grabbing Widow's property and wealth.

Ngana also urged women whose husbands have accumulated property to understand their family affairs and actively participate in important decisions.

She warned that failing to understand family property and financial matters could leave women and children vulnerable when a husband dies.

Ngana called upon the people of Lango to work collectively to ensure that widows and orphans are protected and treated with dignity.

Jane Acola,a Community Liaison Officer with Redeem International,said the organisation is currently working in four districts within the Lango Sub-region,Lira District,Lira City, Kole and Oyam.

Jane Acola speaks to the community members

She said Redeem International is conducting community sensitization programmes aimed at improving the protection of widows and orphans.

According to Acola,the organisation's assessment found that violations against widows and children remain widespread, particularly following the death of husbands and fathers.

She urged men with families to prepare wills before their deaths to reduce disputes and protect their wives and children from property grabbing.