A large number of men in Rukungiri district Kigezi region in western Uganda are reportedly victims of domestic violence following severe harassments by their wives.
This was disclosed yesterday by district authorities during a reflection meeting about the Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Project (WELP), a project of Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) at Platinum Classic Suites in Buyanja.
Authorities revealed the district has in the recent past recorded many cases of harassment where women beat their husbands something they are worried May breakup more families.
The Rukungiri district Production, Marketing and natural resources officer Micheal Byarugaba decried the actions saying that in the past, men used to beat their wives, but the trend has nowadays changed to women.
Speaking at the same event, the Gideon Ntungura,a councilor representing the people of Bwambara Sub County at the district who also doubles as secretary for Finance, Planning and Administration noted that there is a need to empower men inorder to zerodown domestic violence in families.
He suggests that government,religious leaders and other stakeholders hold sensitization programmes to married couples on building stable families.
In contrast to these reactions, one of the females in the meeting identified as Prima Mubangizi said there are reasons women beat their husbands. She said some men have neglected their families, alcoholism, and fsilure to play ‘bedroom ‘ responsibilities some of the reasons they are battered.
Mubangizi proposed that councils pass an ordinance on opening bars in the evening hours, so that men are compelled to work before going to bars.
The district chief administrative officer, Erias Byamungu is optimistic that if children are raised responsibly, the challenge of domestic violence will be unheard of in the near future, since the same children will form responsible families.
