Domestic violence:I still fear his relatives could kill me
Sep 12, 2012
On November 27, 2011, her husband repeatedly cut her with a machete as she took a shower outside the house. The incident happened in Namusita village, Balawoli sub-county, in Kamuli district.
By Tom Gwebayanga
On November 27, 2011, her husband repeatedly cut her with a machete as she took a shower outside the house. The incident happened in Namusita village, Balawoli sub-county, in Kamuli district.
Jennifer Nabugabo had lived with her husband, James Waiswa, in Nabikuuyi, Nawampiti sub-county, Luuka District and they had four children. However, she left him in July 2011 because he constantly beat her and was unfaithful. She went to stay with her sister in another village.
After her departure, Waiswa had attempted to sell the family land at sh3m, but the buyer insisted on Nabugabo’s signature. Waiswa asked Nakabugo to sign the documents, but she refused, saying the land should be reserved for the children. He then promised to return and teach her a lesson she would never forget.
One night, in the dark, Waiswa sneaked into the homestead with a machete and waited. It is common for people in the rural parts of the country to wait for nightfall before they bathe. It was Nakabugo’s turn to bathe. Waiswa tiptoed towards her and struck.
“As I bent down to scoop water from the basin, I suddenly felt a sharp cut on my hip, followed by another on the shoulder,” she recalls.
Another one landed on her head and chest just as she recognised the father of her children. “Why are you killing me?” She screamed.
Hearing her cry her nine-year-old son, Brian Kulobone, came out of the house. “Father, don’t kill Mother”, he cried.
He swung a machete to cut his son, but the boy ducked and took to his heels. Waiswa tried to pursued the boy but he got away.
Waiswa then jumped on a waiting boda boda and fled, leaving his wife lying unconscious in a pool of blood.
Nabugabo was rushed to hospital and the case reported to Kamuli central police station. He was later arrested and charged. An unrepentant Waiswa made an extra-judicial statement saying he had acted in vengeance because of his wife’s misconduct. In court he again tried to attack Nakabugo.
Meanwhile, Namugabo nursed her wounds for four months but the consequences had gone beyond wonds.
Because of her head injury, she developed mental problems.
Doctors have advised her to abstain from sex for a year and that she should not have anymore children because her damaged back cannot be able to support pregnancy and safe delivery. Nakabugo is only happy to be alive and thanks God for that.
“I will comply with the doctors’ advice to abstain from sex for one year and stop having children. I have six children; what else would I want?” she said.
Waiswa is currently in Kirinya Prison in Jinja, awaiting his verdict on attempted murder. In addition, he faces another charge of attempting to escape from lawfully custody on the day he tried to attack his wife in court and run away.
Namugabo has no permanent place of residence. She lives in constant fear that Waiswa’s relatives could trace her and kill her.
According to the District Police Officer in Kamuli, Richard Kagoda, Busoga leads in wife battery, with at least four women battered every hour. He said despite the interventions like sensitization and counseling, the vice still remains a challenge.