Until she was detached from paternal care, Jovia Laker (not her real name) realized she was not just fighting for parental love but also carrying the burdens handed down by traditions that had condemned her to a life of rejection.
When her birth was confirmed as the result of incest, by her father, a blood brother to her mother, was separated from the family. Her mother moved in with her maternal relatives, while her father remained in his home.
Acholi traditions hold incest as a taboo, but when children are involved, the consequences can be silently devastating. For children like Laker, paying for the “sins” of their parents becomes a painful, lifelong struggle.
“You aren’t a child of blessing, you don’t have a father, this isn’t your home, and you must not come back here because you will become insane or die if you do,” Laker recounts.
There is no substantial data on the number of children living on Gulu’s streets. Police estimate about 600, but researchers believe the figure is higher. The 2023 Uganda Police Force annual report documented 13,144 defilement cases, with 12,818 victims being female and 326 male.
Among these, 97 girls were defiled by their biological fathers, and 90 by guardians, making a total of 236 cases recorded within the year.
The Struggle of a Child Born from Incest
Within three years of her birth, Laker’s father remained a mystery. Her mother told the family he had gone to work abroad. The truth emerged when a land title document leaked, naming Laker as a successor to her father’s property. This revelation uncovered the secret of her incestuous origins.
Her paternal care was forbidden. She lost her home, became fatherless, and bore the stigma of her birth as she struggled for survival while society turned a blind eye. Media and Gender Specialist Dr. Patricia Litho explains that such trauma deeply affects children’s confidence and self-esteem. She calls on families to protect children and ensure their safety at home.
Life with Guardians
At 19, Laker has lost count of the schools she attended before completing her Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) in 2024. Constantly moved from one guardian to another, she faced upheaval at every turn.
At 13, while preparing for her Primary Seven exams, Laker became her grandmother’s primary caregiver. Balancing school with household chores, she often slept for only four hours.
“My grandmother kept telling me, ‘If I die, don’t cry. Just clean my body and call people to bury me.’ But it was tough. While others went to school, I prepared food for the family before leaving for class,” Laker says.
A Life of Isolation
Her parents were 18 and 19 when she was conceived, and her mother gave birth just before her own PLE. Laker recounts being mocked as a “child born under the desk.” Isolated and surrounded by caregivers much older than her, she struggled with loneliness.
“I told our senior female teacher about my situation at home, but she didn’t believe me. She told me to stop being stupid and focus on class,” Laker recalls.
Today, Laker dreams of becoming Miss Uganda and an orthopedic doctor. She is awaiting her Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results to proceed to higher secondary school.
Cultural Implications of Incest in Acholi
Acholi Paramount Chief David Onen Acana II acknowledges the family breakdown caused by conflict and traditions that ostracize children born of incest. He explains that rituals are performed to separate couples and protect children from stigma.
“Incest is taboo in Acholi. When it happens, the couple is separated through rituals involving slaughtering a lamb and incantations. The child is sent to live with the maternal family,” Acana explains.
Healing from the Streets
Justice Kidega (not his real name) lived on the streets after discovering his father was his mother’s brother. He eventually found healing through a youth-focused organization offering rehabilitation and skill-building programs.
The organization’s Executive Director, Michael Ojok, notes that, over two years, they have reunited 75 children with their families and supported 500 more with medical care.
For Laker and others, the battle against stigma, identity crises, and societal rejection continues. Uganda criminalizes incest under the Sexual Offences Bill, but cultural attitudes often leave children born of incest struggling for acceptance.
