LASPNET launch programme to curb drug abuse-related crimes in Iganga

Iganga, (UG):- Legal Aid Service Providers’ Network (LASPNET), a National member-based NGO Thursday launched the UNODC programme with a project title dubbed Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in the eastern Uganda district. This programme is being launched across various districts in the country and Iganga is one of them.

According to the 2021 report by the United Nations on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which sampled 20 districts in the country, Iganga district was spotted as one of the districts in the country with cases of crimes resulting from the use of drugs according to a.

During the launch of the programme at the Iganga district headquarters on Thursday, the executive director of LASPNET Ms Sylvia Namubiru Mukasa they are working closely with the government to reduce the challenge of drug-related crimes since the community needs to be more productive.

“We selected Iganga because the organization that funds us (UNODC) came to Uganda in 2021 and noted that Iganga is one of the districts with a high rate of drug consumption. A total of 20 districts were selected in the country,” Ms Namubiru said before welcoming the readiness of the district leadership to end crimes resulting from drug use.

She commended the leadership of Iganga district and other stakeholders who were brought on board and taken through a number of programme objectives and urged them to work with authorities and fight crimes related to the use of drugs.

Ms. Namubiru said there is a need to sensitize people by following culture rather than thinking that imprisoning them is the only alternative to handle such cases. This was after learning that some drugs are sold along some streets of Iganga town uninterruptedly.

The stakeholders will be the main implementers of the programme which is purely on grassroots and some bicycles were donated to volunteers to support the programme across the sub-counties in Iganga district.

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Iganga district Hajj Wandera Sadala pledged support towards the implementation of the programme in the district. Wandera says they will work as a team to ensure successful progress in fighting crimes related to drug abuse and cases of street kids, who end up in criminal gangs.

While the Iganga LC5 chairperson, Mr. Gabula Ezera said it has come at the right time when people need to settle matters outside courts of law through empowering the parasocial workers to sensitize people in communities. He commended them for providing bicycles to such workers in the district.

Ms Naigaga Shakira, the Community Development Officer (CDO) for Bulamagi Sub County says children are going on the streets and later engage in consumption of drugs because of parental neglect. She urged parents to ensure that there is a proper family setting for children to avoid those running to the streets.

“The big problem in the community is parental neglect where children are left unattended to and end up on streets. This is as a result of lack of a proper family setting where parents give birth to children and later fail to take care of them,” Ms Naigaga said.

The district later signed a memorandum of understanding with the LASPNET and the district was represented by the office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

Related