This research seeks to demonstrate the need for alternative forms of sentencing in the Uganda criminal justice system with a specific focus on the use of community service. Approaching community service as a child protection strategy in sentencing parent offenders would be a positive step in addressing issues of child neglect and attendant problems. The study seeks to: (1) Analyse the impact of parental incarceration on children (2) Make a specific inquiry into the use of community service orders as an alternative to imprisonment in Uganda (3) Illustrate that approaching community service as a child protection strategy in sentencing parent offenders would be a positive step in addressing issues of child neglect and attendant problems (4) Make recommendations for a new course of action that will highlight and be aimed at preventing the abuse of children / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Dr Atangcho Nji Akonumbo, Université Catholique D’Afrique Centrale Yaoundé Cameroun / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM