Women blamed for fuelling domestic violence

Left to right: Fr. Andrew Kato, Fr. Joseph Muwonge, Fr. Stelios Kasule, Fr. John Bossa Kibuuka, Parish Priest Nicholas Bayego and Rtd Vicar General Peter Matovu during the International Women's Day of prayers at Uganda Orthodox church in Namungona on March 23,  2017. Photos by Nancy Nanyonga

An Orthodox Cleric has turned the guns to women, saying they are to blamed for the rampant collapse of marriages and domestic violence. Women are known to be the most victims of domestic violence.

The Head of Degeya Deanery in the Orthodox Church, Rev Fr. John Bbosa Kibuuka said women have neglected their biblical responsibilities to raise their children, love their husbands and care for their homes.

"Today many women are busy looking for money. They no longer have time for their husbands and homes. Some enter their homes late when everybody is sleeping including their husbands. They also leave early without checking on their children," he added.

Kibuuka said this while giving his sermon during the International Women's Day of prayers, at the Orthodox Church headquarters in Namungona under the theme; "Am I being unfair to you".

Left to right:Rubaga division mayor Joyce Ssebugwawo, chairperson Uganda women Orthodox church Jane Nantale Ssekikubo and MP Theodore Ssekikubo interacting during the International Women's Day prayers

The event was attended by Women Union leaders from the Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox churches, organised the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC).

Kibuuka asked women leaders to educate and sensitize other women on the importance of their role in shaping families and the country.

"We appreciate their efforts to educate children and supporting their husbands, but they need to balance the two. They need to spare time for their families to protect their marriages," he added.

Kibuuka noted that most homes today are managed by maids whose real characters are not known.

 
"Some women become defiant to their husbands because they have good jobs. This has fuelled domestic violence and collapse of marriages," he added.

The 2016 Annual Crime and Road Safety Report shows that out of the 40,258 related cases of Violence against Women and Girls (VAWGs), 17,567 were defilement cases and 1,572 (rape) among others.

Beatrice Abwooli Ntagali, the wife to Church of Uganda Archbishop, Stanley Ntagali cautioned women against leaving their children in the hands of strangers.

"You must be careful and mindful with those you leave your children with. We have seen many of our children molested by some of these people. Always spare time to talk to your children," she said.

The Rubaga Division Chairperson, Joyce Sebugwawo attributed the problem on misinterpreting the concept of women emancipation.

"Women need to be re-sensitized to understand this concept. It doesn't mean throwing away our responsibilities at all," she noted.

 
Gartrude Sekabira, the head of women desk at Kampala Diocese, Namirembe, said a strong family is a key to development. "When families collapse, it affects society in line of development and shaping behaviour."

The 2013 High Court Family Division statistics indicate that 32 couples had divorced by mid-2013.

They prayed for peace in the country, the President and his Cabinet, families, children and youths among others.