CSOs urged to help victims of sexual violence

Director at Refugee Law Project School of Law Makerere University Dr. Chris Dolan training women activists and counsellors on sexual violence at Grand Imperial Hotel, Kampala, on Friday. Photo by Mary Kansiime 

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Uganda have been urged to build confidence in the victims of gender based and sexual violence so that they can disclose information during medical examinations. This helps medical officers to get evidence to prosecute offenders. Senior pathologist at Makerere University medical school Dr. Sylvester Onzivua says due to fear, the victims cannot report such cases. He says failure to follow up on the cases by the victims is the reason courts release suspects for lack of evidence to pin them.

Speaking during the Refugee Law Project workshop at Grand Imperial Hotel over the weekend, he said victims have tendencies of reporting sexual violence cases late, which hinders gathering of evidence by medical workers.

Onzivua also said medical evidence has the capacity to independently influence justice. "Once a medical worker doesn't get clear history of the occurrence of violence from the victims, he/she may make wrong examination hence affecting the fate of the case," he stated.

Dr. Silvester Onzivua interacting with Senior Advocacy Communication Officer at the Association of Women Lawyers FIDA Uganda Mercy Munduru at Grand Imperial Hotel, Kampala  

He said through convening dialogues, counseling sessions and creation of sexual violence groups can easily make the victims reveal the information. "Alternatively, these NGOs can create networks of trustworthy counsellors in villages who once the victim gives them the  information can effectively report it to relevant authorities," he said.

 The refugee law project director, Dr. Chris Dolan, said the organisation operates in 25 districts in different refugee centres such as Kyangwali, Kiryandongo and Hoima.

Mercy Muduru, a senior advocacy communication officer at Association of Women lawyers (FIDA) Uganda said sexual violence cases in Uganda are the second highest crime according to Police reports .She however said the Government has put less efforts in curbing down rape and defilement.

"You find someone was raped by rebels and they can't be traced. What we do, we only counsel the victims and give them some help like food, clothes, "said Muduru.

 Victim speaks out

A sexual violence victim who spoke to New Vision on condition of anonymity narrated how she was abused by Congolese rebels in 2004 when they raided the school where she used to teach English and computer. She says the rebels wanted 10 strong boys who could help them in fighting and when she refused, she was gang rapped in front of students.

"They raped me and took me together with the 10 boys to the bush; I became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy. I lived with them for almost two years before I came back to Uganda. I was eating poorly, drinking dirty water and sleeping in bushes, "she narrated.