The Hope Event; Hope International Conference and Gala was held to create awareness to end child sacrifice and human trafficking in Uganda and worldwide, and to bring multiple stakeholders to dialogue about rescue of victims of child sacrifice and human trafficking, prosecution of suspects, rehabilitation of victims, and building momentum to combat the heinous crimes.

During the conference, it was noted that the following were imperative to combat human trafficking and child sacrifice among others:

- Address theology, greed, witch doctors’ presence and weak government systems.
- Resource stakeholders to enable them effectively fight the crimes.
- Establish a Prosecutors’ Academy for Prosecutors to keep learning, sharing, and enhancing their skills.
- Enhance punishments for convicts.
- Have special sessions for the cases.
- Build and resource shelters for victims.
- Deal with the root causes of the crimes such as poverty, conflict, discrimination etc.
- Synergize and consolidate efforts of various stakeholders to respond in a robust and coordinated manner.
- Pass the Witness Protection Bill into law and avail resources for its implementation.

At the Gala, Kyampisi Child care Ministries (KCM) under the leadership of Mr. Peter Sewakiryanga presented awards to the DPP Jane Frances Abodo and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in recognition of their hard work in the fight against human trafficking and child sacrifice.

Other beneficiaries of the awards include Justice Mike Chibita - Justice of the Supreme Court, Hope Nakirijja- a child sacrifice survivor, Coalition of Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (COPTIP), the Human Trafficking Institute, AIGP Akullo Grace among others.

Jacquelyn Okui
PRO-ODPP