My stepfather gave me a new lease on life

At 17 years, Zubedah Musubika is a mother to two children who are three years and seven months old. 

She dropped out of school in 2019 after her Primary seven. She says her parents separated when she was seven years old. 

Her father, a fisherman on Maluba Island in Namayingo district had been abusive. He battered her mother whenever she complained about his behaviours or asked for food and other needs. 

Left To Right; Musubika, Athieno and another victim of domestic violence. Photos by Ritah Mukasa

Worse still, he was promiscuous and controlling that he did not accept his wife to work fearing that she would become unruly or elope with rich men. 

In 2007, they separated and Musubika’s mother settled in Wakawaka landing site in Bugiri district with her three children. They never saw their father again. 

Their mother would later remarry and her new man adopted her children. He educated them and made sure they did not lack. The couple had three children together.

All was well until 2019 when Musubika’s stepfather fell sick and died. Around that time, her mother lost her job at the forest company where she worked as a casual labourer. She could hardly fend for her six children. 

Musubika was 14 years old. She got a boda boda rider who started providing her basic needs. When she conceived, her mother threatened to imprison him for defilement. He fled to Namayingo district.  

“My boyfriend continued supporting me. Every week he would send me sh20, 000,” she says.

Fast-forward to last year they reunited and she conceived again but this time, he stopped caring for her.

“Life was miserable. I struggled to fend for my babies and siblings because mum is still jobless,” she says.

Luckily, In June, Musubika joined Heroes for Gender Transformative Action Program (Heroes 4GTA) under MIFUMI a women’s rights organization that provides community-based support services for survivors of violence and abuse.  

Musubika was skilled in hairdressing. She says her life has since changed for the better. 

“My childhood dream was to be a soldier or hairdresser. I am happy to do what I love,” she says.

Every week she earns sh30, 000 from her mobile salon business.

She uses the proceeds to buy milk for the babies and other needs such as sugar, soap and food for her family. 

She stays with her mother, Zulaika Naigaga 36, and five siblings.

Meanwhile, Lucy Mary Athieno, a Gender Based Violence (GBV) specialist with MIFUMI says, many families are affected by violence and children become victims. 

She says the situation is worse in Eastern Uganda where poverty and cultural beliefs still influence people’s way of life.

She refers to the 2016 Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS), which indicates that 51% of women aged 15-19 years have ever experienced physical violence. 

More than one in five (22%) women have ever experienced sexual violence in their lifetimes (UBOS & ICF, 2018).