Women activists through their body, Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) has called on Government to fast-track the establishment of Sexual Gender-based Violence courts to ensure expedient, efficient handling cases of gender-based violence.
Addressing journalists this morning at National Theater, Rita Aciro, Executive Director UWONET highlighted the plight into gender-based violence in Uganda revealing that 56% of Ugandan women and girls have experienced physical assault, 28% have experienced sexual violence. Aciro also revealed that child marriage remains prevalent in several parts of Uganda standing at 52% in Karamoja, 40% in Busoga and 36% according to Uganda Bureau of statistics population census 2006.
She called upon Government to commit adequate resources to prevention and response to sexual gender-based violence, “We call on Government to fast track establishment of permanent Gender-Based Violence special courts to ensure epedient, efficient handling of GBV cases. We further emphasise the need to apply a gender lens and adopt a victim-centered approach in handling the cases?”
While launching the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence, this year, Uganda Women’s Network is running a campaign under the theme; ShiftTheBlame in a United Front, Voice and action against GBV and this saw a number of women detail the violence they have encountered.
Margaret Opolot who said, “I was molested and harassed by my husband and all my documents burnt, a case for attempted murder was preferred. Three days later, he was set free and I was told to go and settle my issues with my man that ‘good wives’ don’t take their husbands to court.”
Annet Nantale who represented the women in informal sector and working in Kalerwe market revealed the ordeal they go through as they go or come back from work cursing the drug addicts and some boda boda men who harass them in different manners.
In 2018 alone, 13,916 cases of SGBV were reported to Police making it one of the most prevalent crimes in Uganda.
