By Elizabeth Ampairwe

The World Bank’s recent decision to halt any new loans to Uganda after the enactment of the Anti -Homosexuality Act could impact efforts to tackle Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the Country. 

The organisation stated that Uganda’s new law directly contradicts the bank’s values of inclusion and non-discrimination. Furthermore, the fact that the bank is withdrawing funding impacts human rights, health, and well-being, particularly for women, girls, men, and boys. 

According to Mr. Jimmy Mugunga, the Spokesperson in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MOFPED), a total of $1.7 billion (UGX6.3 trillion) of the $4 billion (UGX 14.8 trillion) allocated to Uganda has already been disbursed, which raises concerns about whether the country will receive the remaining funds.

Most of this funding is used to improve health care, education, and infrastructure, including roads and energy. 

The pronouncement by the State Minister for Finance, Henry Musasizi that the Government will revise the national budget, regarding emoluments of public servants raises eyebrows relating to the fate of health workers, the Uganda Police, and other government agencies that are key in addressing SGBV.

Fears are rife that Government efforts towards addressing the SGBV such as the policies and strategies, like the National Policy of Elimination of Gender Based Violence, the National Action Plan on Ending Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy, and the Police Child and Family Protection Unit, will be affected due to funding gaps.

Amidst this backdrop, FOWODE applauds the government's efforts to seek further dialogue in mitigating this worrisome scenario but also acknowledges the government’s efforts in proactively looking at methods of adaptability.

According to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) 2011 and 2016, SGBV is perceived as one of the complex social phenomena especially given the social structures and processes that reinforce its occurrence. In its complexity, SGBV not only occurs amongst intimate relationships, but it can occur in families, communities, and workplaces. It further indicates that GBV is still socially acceptable among women and men. The UDHS 2011 survey indicates that 58% of women and 43.7% of men aged 15-49, accept that a husband is justified to hit or beat his wife for any one of the reasons such as burning food, arguing with him, going out of home without telling him, neglecting children or refusing him sexual intercourse.

SGBV remains a significant issue in Uganda, with the latest report from the Uganda Annual Police Crime Report 2022 indicating a sharp rise in crime. Sexual and Gender-based violence was listed fourth, with 17,698 cases of domestic violence reported, and sex-related offences such as rape and defilement had 16,373 cases reported. Such violence remains unacceptable among men and women in Ugandan society. It is hoped that multi-sectoral approaches will be employed, including empowerment of the Uganda Police Force, developing Standard Operation Procedures, and putting institutional mechanisms to address SGBV and meet international and national obligations.

In conclusion, we shall overcome SGBV if we also address the economic dependence of women and children on men, which forces them to stay in abusive families or relationships and deters them from reporting abusive behaviour for fear of losing an income provider.

The author is the Director Programmes Forum for Women in Democracy.