Assessing Uganda's Legal Framework for Children's Right to Protection from Violence

Children's protection from violence requires both enforceable prohibitions and institutions capable of preventing harm, responding to disclosure and supporting recovery. This article assesses Uganda's legal framework through doctrinal analysis of constitutional provisions, revised legislation, judicial decisions and selected international standards. It uses published national survey findings and intervention research as contextual evidence, without collecting primary data or treating historical statistics as current prevalence estimates. The analysis finds substantial legal coverage of physical and sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation, harmful practices and institutional violence. Ugandan decisions on corporal punishment, female genital mutilation and criminal accountability demonstrate the importance of dignity and enforceable legal limits. African regional and comparative decisions clarify the relevance of positive protective duties, oversight of privately managed institutions and investigations that recognise children's vulnerability. Nevertheless, broad statutory coverage does not itself establish that children can obtain timely protection. The framework requires greater clarity on corporal punishment across settings, stronger coordination between protective and criminal proceedings, accessible representation, and verifiable implementation of recovery and protective orders. The article recommends a coordinated system with defined institutional responsibilities, funded referral and support services, independent complaint mechanisms and publicly reported safeguards. It concludes that legal adequacy should be assessed through the entire protection process, from prevention and safe disclosure to effective remedies and sustained recovery, while preserving fair trial guarantees.