Why banning ‘Disco Matanga’ in eastern region is a welcome move

By Geoffrey Kasumba

On October 5, 2024, while attending a function in Namayingo district the Minister of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Justine Kasule Lumumba noted that the government had banned ‘disco matanga’ in Namayingo district.

In the Eastern region, disco matanga traditionally involves dances staged at a funeral- an occasion at which mourners gather, and consume alcohol and illicit drugs as they contribute condolences towards a befitting burial for the deceased. In addition, men pay for girls whom they want as ‘dance partners.’ The dance is later used for transactional sex. For unwilling girls and young women, this often puts them at risk of sexual exploitation.  

The wild dance, usually held at night comprises children and adults and it is sometimes characterised by excessive use of alcohol, reckless sexual activities and violence.

The practice started among the Luo and the Luhya in Western Kenya, before spreading across the border to the Ugandan districts of Namisindwa, Tororo, Busia and Namayingo.

It is a known fact that harmful cultural practices perpetuate violence on children. Common practices like forced child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are committed regularly over long periods that communities and societies consider acceptable. The communities in those districts pose a huge threat to the children there, exposing them to sexual exploitation and violence during this cultural ceremony.

To end harmful cultural practices, various stakeholders like religious and traditional leaders must be involved. In some communities, the leaders themselves fuel these harmful practices.  Others do not understand the child protection risks associated with various practices therefore they don’t act in favour of disapproving these practices. 

They are required to hold their funeral fundraising events during the day and follow the legal procedures as authorised by the Residential District Commissioner (RDC).  In addition to this, those culpable of not observing the stipulated rules are to be taken in for questioning and their equipment confiscated. The district is planning to come up with a clear law on the practice and a standardised penalty for the same. This action has strengthened national and local protection and response systems within Busia district.

Engaging leaders from the village to district level- including the resident district commissioner- popularised the new regulation in Busia District through the different forums. This will not only take effect on practices like disco matangas but other harmful ones as well and this will go a long way to help end violence against children. 

According to the Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA) 2021. An estimated 1,433,337 people were living with HIV (PLHIV) as of December 2022, of which 1,403,603 (98%) were on ART as of June 2023, and 17,337 AIDS-related deaths occurred. 

Thirty one (31) out of 146 districts contributed 60% of new HIV infections. UPHIA 2020 data also reflects the regional variations of HIV prevalence although the order of the highest incidence is different

With the implementation of innovative HIV testing approaches such as index testing, and the recently launched Wondfo HIV Testing Kit to be made in Uganda, recency testing, and APN, to find HIV-infected persons, there is hope that the first target will be achieved and so will the second target with the test and treat program.

The writer is a communication and knowledge management specialist