West Nile: Where women carry the load alone

________________

OPINION

By Walter Akena

In a remote village in Palaja, Kei sub-county, Yumbe District, a woman named Asibazoyo (not her real name) shared her heartbreaking story during a Civic Engagement Meeting (CEM). Her name, which translates to "hopeless" in Lugbara, reflected the daily reality she faces. Despite having an able-bodied husband, Asibazoyo shoulders the responsibility of providing for her children alone. With tears in her eyes, she described the challenges of securing food, clothing, and school fees while her husband spends his days at the trading centre drinking.

Ms Asibazoyo’s story is not an isolated one. Her voice represents a chorus of suffering echoed across the over thirty CEMs organised by the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) and the West Nile Development Association (WENDA) across the region. From Jupangira in Nebbi to Kerwa in Yumbe, women expressed one consistent and painful truth: men are increasingly withdrawing from their roles as providers, leaving women to shoulder the full burden of household responsibility.

As one moves through West Nile—from Pakwach to Oraba, from Goli to Laropi—this crisis is evident. Women can be seen walking under the scorching sun, balancing heavy loads of firewood or merchandise on their heads, babies strapped to their backs. Meanwhile, a different picture unfolds in nearby trading centres, where men and boys sit clustered in drinking joints, seemingly unmoved by the struggles unfolding at home. This contrast presents a disturbing image of social imbalance, one that reveals an emerging and troubling norm.

The West Nile region is a mosaic of diverse ethnic communities, including the Alur, Lugbara, Madi, Kakwa, and Aringa. Each group carries its own unique traditions, yet across all, a shared cultural fabric of patriarchal dominance persists. Unfortunately, this form of dominance no longer reflects responsibility or leadership. Instead, it is increasingly defined by absence and neglect. The notion of manhood, once associated with duty and honour, is now being overshadowed by apathy and indulgence, and the family institution is paying the price.

In West Nile, women face major challenges sustaining their families due to limited access to land and other productive resources, which are mostly owned by men. Many women turn to petty trade or rely on natural resources like firewood, grass, and charcoal for income. This not only strains the environment—leading to deforestation and climate change—but also puts them at odds with environmental law enforcement authorities, especially in protected areas like Ajai and Mt Kei Forest Reserves.

Yet, even with their hard work, many women don’t control their earnings, as husbands often take the money, deepening their hardships. In several CEMs, women revealed that they were forced to give their PDM funds to their husbands, undermining the effectiveness of poverty reduction initiatives.

The systemic devaluation of girls' education, coupled with limited access to formal learning, has led to a high illiteracy rate among women. This gendered educational disparity severely limits women’s ability to participate meaningfully in governance and public life. As a consequence, women’s voices remain silenced, leaving them to endure the compounded effects of this emerging social norm.

Although Uganda has made strides in promoting gender equality through laws and institutions, the increasing neglect of family roles by men in West Nile threatens to undo this progress. This trend undermines Uganda’s efforts to end poverty (SDG 1), achieve gender equality (SDG 5), promote decent work (SDG 8), and fight climate change (SDG 13). This trend also jeopardizes the achievement of the National Development Plan IV, particularly its human capital development objectives, where gender equality is identified as a crucial driver of social transformation. Additionally, it undermines Uganda's Vision 2040, which aims to transition the country from a predominantly agrarian society to a modern, prosperous nation within the next 30 years.

It is important to note that the solution to this crisis does not lie in condemning men, but rather in reawakening them to their rightful roles as partners in building stable, functional families. When both men and women share responsibilities in the home, families thrive. Children benefit from the presence, guidance, and support of both parents. Communities grow stronger, and the nation advances.

The path forward demands a concerted effort on multiple fronts. It requires not only addressing the immediate needs of women who are bearing the weight of families alone but also a fundamental shift in societal norms and expectations regarding men's roles. This will necessitate engaging men in redefining masculinity, promoting shared responsibility, and providing economic opportunities that offer alternatives to current destructive patterns like idleness and substance abuse.

Simultaneously, it is crucial to empower women by supporting women's resilience through enhanced access to critical resources and services to recognize their contributions, and integrate their voices into national and subnational planning and budgeting. Ultimately, restoring balance within homes is not merely a social imperative but a crucial step towards achieving sustainable development goals and unlocking the full potential of West Nile and Uganda as a whole.

The writer is a Research Officer at the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE)