Women who are sexually harassed by their supervisors, managers and others across the country now have a chance to report directly through SAUTI-116 helpline, the state minister of gender, Peace Mutuzo has said.

“Today is a breaking point, where, after many years of fighting gender-based violence (GBV), we can finally place our hopes in a legally binding and far-reaching tool to combat violence which is our harmonized SAUTI-116 helpline that will handle all Ugandans including refugees. We finally have a holistic system that will fight tooth and nail to protect victims and bring us one step closer to ending the pain and suffering,” Mutuzo said.

The minister said this during the commissioning of the free tool helpline at Uganda Child Helpline headquarters in Kireka, Kampala on Tuesday.

Mutuzo encouraged both men and women who experience gender-based violence to take advantage of the digital systems and report cases to the authorities for redress.

The state minister of gender Peace Mutuzo (right) interacts with Josephine Candiru of UNFPA and Strinic Dragana the country director of Save the Children during the launch of Sauti 116 helpline in Kampala on December 19, 2023. Photo by Francis Emorut

She pointed out that violence by men against women and children has become unprecedented and all efforts should be taken to combat it.

The minister appealed to men who have suffered under their spouses whom she referred to as savages to utilise the helpline and not ‘die’ in silence.

“Some men were suffering in violence-filled homes and communities and therefore, should not hesitate to report violence being inflicted on them,” Mutuzo said.

According to the national coordinator, John Mugisha, the helpline infrastructure and software cost sh1b.

She encouraged Ugandans to report any form of violence in their communities to the nearest Police station, district probation, and social welfare officers in their respective districts.

She appealed to men to stand up and be counted by taking part in addressing violence against women.

 “I appeal to the fathers of this nation to use dialogue and not fists,” Mutuzo said.

The minister commended development partners such as UNICEF, UNFPA, USAID, CDC, UNHCR, and UN WOMEN as well as International NGOs such as Save the Children, Child Fund, Plan International, and Action Aid for spearheading the fight against violence against children and GBV.

 The youth and child affairs state minister, Sarah Mateke informed guests that government and other stakeholders are working towards ensuring a violence-free society as both girls and women are protected.

The state minister for youth and child affairs Sarah Mateke (left) hands over a plaque to Deborah Gasana UNICEF child protection officer during the launch of Sauti 116 helpline in Kampala on December 19, 2023. Photo by Francis Emorut

She said the integrated SAUTI-116 helpline system installation is timely and will go a long way in combating the vice.

Mateke said that her ministry in collaboration with development partners has been implementing the Uganda Child Helpline (UCHL)-116 toll-free line since 2014 specifically to address violence against the children.

She called upon civil society development partners to continue supporting the helpline system to ensure its sustainability.

Present at the commissioning of the Sauti 116 helpline were the country director of Save the Children, Strinic Dragana, Deborah Gasana UNICEF children protection officer, Josephine Candiru programme analyst gender and human rights UNFPA and district probation officers among others.

During the launch Child organisation representatives were given awards for championing installation of the helpline system and for their instrumental role in the fight against gender based violence and violence against children.