Community Calls for Action: Hakibaale residents in Kabarole district unite against domestic violence at Voice Of Toro’s gender desk community dialogue.
BY MOLLY KAMAKUNE
KABAROLE: Residents of Hakibaale Sub County in the Kabarole district are calling for more community dialogues to address the prevalent domestic violence.
The Voice of Toro (VOT) gender desk, last week held a community dialogue at Hakibaale sub-county headquarters, located in the Kabarole district in Western Uganda where both men and women freely called for action about the surge in cases of domestic violence in families.
During the dialogue, participants identified power imbalance and negligence as some of the major cause of domestic violence where some men and women use allot of power to evade their responsibilities and lack trust in each other.
This has led to a culture of secrecy, where individuals handle issues privately even within marriages.
Women mentioned that men refrain from using their money if they discover that women have their financial resources.
Ms Betty Mujungu, the team leader of the gender desk at Voice Of Toro, emphasized that sexual violence is rooted in harmful gender norms, systemic gender inequality, discrimination, and unequal power relations.
“These issues are often worsened by additional inequalities based on wealth, status, and age, resulting in coercive sexual interactions,” She said.
Ms Mujungu urged women to speak out to authorities at all levels and also use various organizations in their respective communities that can help, emphasizing that silence within the family can be more painful than the violence itself.
Ms Resty Kahinju shared her experience, stating that as a mother, she could not let her children to stay at home during school time and said she resorted to selling off her goats and hens without seeking her husband’s permission which caused her violence in her marriage.
Ms Kabanyoro Jennifer, however, said she faced a betrayal when she trusted her husband with their savings to buy land, and two days before the land purchase, he stole all the money and married another wife in another village, highlighting the financial vulnerability that some women face within marriages.
“I had saved my money to buy land, and since I blindly trusted him (husband), I openly involved him in everything. We counted it together, and two days before we paid for the land, the man stole all the money,” She said.
Kabajulizi Perepetu, who has been married for 58 years, raised concerns about discrimination against children from previous marriages.
She emphasized the challenge of expecting positive outcomes when there is rejection from the outset.
Ms Muntu Margarete, the women leader of Katumba Village and a catechist in the Catholic Church, appreciated Voice Of Toro’s efforts and requested another dialogue in her village stressing the importance of involving men and youth in these discussions to address domestic violence comprehensively.
“I appreciate the work of VOT in conducting the dialogue and request another dialogue in our village. It is crucial to involve children in these discussions to comprehensively address domestic violence,” Muntu said.
Mr Johnson Tinkasiimire, the Lc1 of Kijenga village, shed light on cultural expectations, stating that in their culture, marrying from different clans requires women to adopt the characters of their husband’s clan, and said failure to adhere may result in physical punishment.
This highlights the deep-seated cultural norms that contribute to gender-based violence.
In response to these issues, Rwenzori West Community Liaison Officer Mr Patrick Muhenda, Uganda Police Force, acknowledged that many cases they handle at the police are confidential, with both men and women reporting instances of domestic violence.
SP. Muhenda speaking during the community dialogue.
He stressed the importance of communication and dialogue in resolving conflicts, discouraging the use of physical force, and urged women to be decisive report toxic and violent marriages to the police, and collaborate with different organizations to ensure justice.
“It is crucial to prioritize communication over physical force in resolving conflicts. I urge women to be decisive and report toxic and violent marriages to the police, collaborating with different organizations to ensure justice prevails,” He said.
Mr Muhenda appreciates the efforts of women working tirelessly in various fields and attending community dialogues and called upon men to join women in such arrangements, emphasizing the collective responsibility of addressing domestic violence within the community.
In August last year, the head of the child and family protection unit at Fort Portal Central Police Station, SP Agnes Angom highlighted the persistence of gender-based violence cases, recording over 140 cases on average per month.
She noted a concerning trend: an increasing number of men are now reporting such cases. SP Angom attributed this issue to household poverty and neglect of family duties.
Last year, Tooro Kingdom signed a commitment with government to fight violence against women and girls within the Tooro Kingdom.
The Tooro Kingdom Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Gender, Culture, and Clan Mobilisation, Ms Harriet Nyakake who signed the commitment on behalf of the kingdom, revealed that the Kingdom’s commitment will involve all county chiefs across the kingdom’s nine counties who would lead an initiative using cultural means to combat this violence.
She identified the rise in violence against women and girls as a consequence of some men shirking their responsibilities, leaving women to solely carry the burden of supporting families.
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