MARRIED | WOMEN | FORCED SEX

KAMPALA - More than half of women in Kimumbasa Bwaise slum and a third in Katanga reported to have been forced into sexual intercourse by their husbands during the COVID-19 lockdown, a new study has revealed.

The rate was at 51% in Kimumbasa Bwaise slum compared to 29.4% in Katanga slum, according to a new study sponsored by Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund. 

This simply means that for every 10 women, about five experienced sexual violence in Kimumbasa Bwaise slum.  

Meanwhile, in Katanga three out of ten women confessed to have suffered sexual and gender violence during the recent COVI- 19 lockdown.

The indicators imply that forced sex is an acceptable vice, especially in the community of Kimumbasa slum, it equates to the national sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) rate.

According to Uganda Health Demographic Survey (UHDS) 2016, about 51% of all women reported experiencing at least one episode of physical violence since age of 15. 

Additionally, about 56% of the ever-married women have experienced physical, psychological or sexual- violence from their current or previous partner. 

COVID-19 pandemic caused a spike in sexual and gender based violence. For Instance, during the first lockdown, over 3,000 sexual gender and based violence cases were reported in less than one month. 

Researchers say the situation could be worse, except women may have been uncomfortable discussing a sensitive topic.

The lead researcher, Dr. Wilberforce Karugahe, noted that the two slums were selected because women there are unemployed and the chances of being victims of violence were high. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

A woman leader in the slum who preferred to remain anonymous said her husband often forced her into sexual intercourse and would sometimes beat her. 

“My husband would force me into sex and sometimes beat me but being a women leader in the community, I feared to report because the women looked upon me and often confided in me. I had to ensure and also continue defending for the family amidst hard economic times because my husband was not working,” noted the woman leader.

While men may also have suffered the same violence, the study focused on women because they tend to be more vulnerable. 

The lead researcher, Dr. Wilberforce Karugahe, noted that the two slums were selected because women there are unemployed and the chances of being victims of violence were high.

“Katanga is more of an urban slum while Kimumbasa Bwaise is still remote, which explains the difference in the prevalence rate,” Dr. Karugahe.   

Surprisingly, only 33% of these women sought professional help while majority opted to speak to family members, relatives, friends and local leaders instead of going out to look for professional psychologists who are able to identify their issues and provide therapeutic services.

Nurudin Ssentamu, who is the Chairperson Jambula zone Kimumbasa Bwaise in Kawempe division said throughout the period of lockdown he was engaged in settling cases of men forcing their wives into sexual intercourse. 

Those who refused would be beaten. 

“We would listen to their issues, counsel and sometimes refer them to police and other non-governmental organizations,” Ssentamu said.

He estimated that his office would register about six cases of forced sex weekly, adding that the number of cases could have been higher, except some women would fear to report.

The revelations were made recently during the dissemination of the finding of the research that aimed at identifying the prevalence levels of sexual and gender-based violence among women aged between 15 to 49 in the two Kampala slums of Kimumbasa and Katanga. 

Moving forward

Prof Baguma, who is a researcher and lecturer at Makerere University, said there is need to avail and promote mental health services among women in the urban slums given the findings revealed that they never go to hospitals to talk to counsellors or psychologists, yet these would understand them and provide the necessary interventions.

The researchers, also urged government to talk about sexual and gender-based violence because it is a problem similar to other aspects of violence such as physical emotional and psychological aspects.

“We ask government, stakeholders and non-governmental organizations to come out and promote mental health services,” Dr. Karugahe said 

He called upon government to put mechanisms in place to identify sexual and gender-based victims within the community and refer them for professional help.