By Patrick Jaramogi
and Brenda Asiimwe

DANCING while wearing essanja (dry banana leaves) is a form of witchcraft that must be fought, the former ethics and integrity state minister, Miria Matembe, has said.

“We are gearing up for elections next year but you will see the same madness that we see during every election when women dance wearing dry banana leaves. All those who wear dry banana leaves are nightdancers,” she said.

She made the remarks during a judicial public dialogue on the sexual-based gender violence organised by the Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) and the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET). The workshop was held at Imperial Royale hotel in Kampala recently.

“It is very sad that the current leadership is taking this country into evil. Rampant corruption, child sacrifice and murder is the order of the day,” she said.
The participants from Pader, Gulu and Kitgum observed that the Police were frustrating women’s access to justice.

“Sexual-based violence is rampant in northern Uganda because we don’t get much support from the Police,” said Santa Kante, the Gulu district secretary for community services.