By Tracy Akoragye
KAMPALA
A statement by the ministry of Gender Labour and Social development has revealed that many women are faced with economic violence as a result of domestic violence and gender based violence in Uganda.
In a joint statement with Men’s Forum against GBV, the ministry reported that domestic violence and gender based violence has been widely spread in Uganda which affects all people irrespective of their social, economic and political status.
“This occurs in families, communities, work places and institutions. However much women are affected the more whereby half of them are faced with economic violence at a percentage of 47 and about two in every ten women are forced to give their earnings to their partners,” the ministry reported.
The ministry highlights emerging causes of GBV in the modern era as urbanization, cyber harassment, refugee influx and urban refugee, climate change among others.
“The lack of fuel wood has increased the burden on women and girls because they bear the primary responsibility for cooking, so the lack of energy supply and the stress from inadequate cooking resources has exacerbated tension in households, potentially leading to domestic violence.women and girls are more at risk of sexual exploitation and violence due to walking long distance in lonely and insecure places and forests to search for food,” MGLSD said in a statement to speaker of parliament.
A 2019, separate poll conducted by U report revealed that about 4,054 people aged 15-24 years old across the country were victims of online violence/cyber bullying which has increased mental health issues, depression, emotional violence and suicide cases.
“In 2022, the lifeline prevalence of intimate partner violence or sexual violence was 56% and physical violence among ever-partnered women was 45%, the highest being Acholi subregion with 78% while sexual violence was 36% highly in the regions of Acholi with 64% and Bukedi with 61%,” the ministry further noted.
According to the Uganda Police force’s annual crime report in 2022, a total of 14,693 sex related cases were reported to the police and of which 12,580 were defilement cases. Out of 14,795 people who were victims of sex related crimes, 12,816 were female Juveniles, 33 were male Juveniles and 1,946 were female adults. In addition to that a total of 18,549 people were also victims of domestic violence of whom 3,728 were male adults, 13,052 were female adults and 819 were male Juveniles while 950 were female Juveniles.
Also the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey in 2022 continued to reveal in their report that up to 24% of the women aged 15 to 19 in Uganda are mothers or pregnant with their first child and 16% of those women from the age of 15 to 49 have experienced some form of sexual violence.
The Ministry of Gender,Labour and Social Development further noted a rise in cases of child neglect and abandonment which has increased emotional violence amongst the children and women. For example about 1,791 cases including 51.6% of males, 45.3% and 3.1 others unknown reported on child toll free sauti were handled at GBV shelters in 2019.
The poor parenting patterns among the elite class due to the work life imbalance and this has caused serious negligence in child upbringing which in return causes permanent mental torment for parents and children. Parents should spare time off their busy schedules to nurture children into responsible citizens but instead parenting and child care has been substituted with work related excuses.
Nevertheless, the ministry says the government of Uganda has enacted and formulated progressive laws on policies and strategies addressing GBV such as Domestic Violence Act 2010, Anti – Trafficking in person Act 2009, FGM Act 2010, GBV policy 2016 and many others
Public awareness has been increased on gender based violence as a human right, public health, economic and social issues at the family, community and national levels, according to the ministry.
Government has also increased access to quality services by survivors/victims of GBV through the current 21 GBV shelters with well coordinated and integrated services including temporary accommodation, psychological support, legal aid, medical examinations and treatment, resettlement and reintegration to communities to address GBV challenges .
“So far about 46,481 survivors have sought support in the 21 GBV shelters and of which 40,714 are females and 5,766 are males and 443 are people with disabilities,” said MGLSD.
Reporting of gender based violence has also increased from 39.5% in 2013 to 70% in 2021 and 43% of these are seeking help to end violence, according to UBOS, National Survey on violence against women and Girls, 2021.
This ministry attributes this to the innovative approaches that have been undertaken to have toll free line, sauti 116, safe Pal App, and the robust referral pathways for violence against children.
“We have strengthened local initiatives and networks of stakeholders to address GBV. At grassroot level, the male male Action Groups, survivor support groups, para-social workers and para-legals have been helpful in offering support to the victims of GBV through making referrals, counselling, whistle blowing among others,” read a statement in parts.
In addition, the MGLSD has enhanced dialogue with key actors, including religious and cultural leaders as custodians of social cultural norms for transformative approaches to GBV prevention and response. As a result, 16 cultural institutions have made declaration and pronouncements to combat all negative cultural norms and practices which reinforce GBV in Uganda.
Enhanced accountability by Government and stakeholders is also another action that has been undertaken to address gender based violence in Uganda. For instance , the ministry coordinates with various institutions of government and non state actors to deliver justice to the survivors/victims of GBV. They also jointly work with the office of Director of Public Prosecution, Judiciary, Police to ensure perpetrators are bought to book. For instance, of the 14,693 sex related crimes reported in the annual crime police report in 2022; 5,461 cases were taken to court, 942 cases were not proceeded with while 8,290 cases are still under inquiry and 224 cases have secured conviction.
The ministry together with men`s forum Against Domestic Violence Uganda called on the government and the public to ensure that every individual including the children enjoys their human rights as enshrined in the constitution of Uganda and other international laws.
