Domestic violence on the rise in Mubende district
Mar 07, 2011
LOCAL leaders in Mubende district have expressed concern over increased cases of domestic violence in the area.
By Luke Kagiri
LOCAL leaders in Mubende district have expressed concern over increased cases of domestic violence in the area.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the International Women’s Day in Mubende on Friday, local leaders said domestic violence had put the lives of women in danger.
The district Police commander, Enock Abaine, said although there was a slight decline in December last year, the cases were still high.
“In December, we registered 37 cases. In January they dropped to three but rose again to 28 cases in February. These are still many cases. They have to reduce,†Abaine said. He noted that most cases were a result of alcoholism, adultery and ignorance of the law.
“Some men take their wives and children as commodities. They marry off the girls at an early age and force the in-laws to pay them,†Abaine said.
“In the end, the in-laws also take the wives as commodities. When some men get drunk, they torture their wives,†he added.
Carolyne Shemeri, a legal officer with FIDA, told New Vision that most of the cases were caused by high levels of poverty, alcoholism and adultery.
“Some men have many wives and cannot look after their families. Some girls leave home at an early age because they are not at school and have nothing else to do.
Anthony Ssemuli, the MP- elect for Buwekula county, called upon residents to work with local leaders and other institutions to fight the crime.
“We should not leave the fight against domestic violence to only the Government,†he said.
The function, which took place at the Mayor’s Gardens, was organied by ActionAid Uganda.
Action Aid runs a project, ‘Women Won’t Wait in Mubende District’, in which some of the women who get problems are supported.
LOCAL leaders in Mubende district have expressed concern over increased cases of domestic violence in the area.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the International Women’s Day in Mubende on Friday, local leaders said domestic violence had put the lives of women in danger.
The district Police commander, Enock Abaine, said although there was a slight decline in December last year, the cases were still high.
“In December, we registered 37 cases. In January they dropped to three but rose again to 28 cases in February. These are still many cases. They have to reduce,†Abaine said. He noted that most cases were a result of alcoholism, adultery and ignorance of the law.
“Some men take their wives and children as commodities. They marry off the girls at an early age and force the in-laws to pay them,†Abaine said.
“In the end, the in-laws also take the wives as commodities. When some men get drunk, they torture their wives,†he added.
Carolyne Shemeri, a legal officer with FIDA, told New Vision that most of the cases were caused by high levels of poverty, alcoholism and adultery.
“Some men have many wives and cannot look after their families. Some girls leave home at an early age because they are not at school and have nothing else to do.
Anthony Ssemuli, the MP- elect for Buwekula county, called upon residents to work with local leaders and other institutions to fight the crime.
“We should not leave the fight against domestic violence to only the Government,†he said.
The function, which took place at the Mayor’s Gardens, was organied by ActionAid Uganda.
Action Aid runs a project, ‘Women Won’t Wait in Mubende District’, in which some of the women who get problems are supported.