Gender Ministry seeks specialized domestic violence court

Sep 30, 2020

Tumwebaze said they need a court that can specifically handle the rising cases and deal with men who are battering women in marriages.

MINISTER|DOMESTIC VIOLENCE|JUSTICE

KAMPALA - The Minister of Gender Labour and Social Development, Frank Tumwebaze, has tasked the government to set up a specific court of law to handle domestic violence cases.

The Minister made the remarks on Wednesday (September 30, 2020), as the ministry's incoming Permanent Secretary (PS), Aggrey Kibenge was officially handled office by the former, James Ebitu.

However, his request for a special court follows what he described as an increase in domestic violence-related cases during the lockdown period.

According to the minister, several women have lost their lives as men turn them in punching bags.

"Did she get married to be beaten? Was that part of the wedding vows you took in church or a mosque? We are tired of talking," Tumwebaze said as he welcomed Kibenge.

He revealed that as the gender ministry, they need a court that can specifically handle the rising cases and deal with men who are battering women in marriages, adding that though at times men too experience violence, women are most vulnerable.

Police statistics show that 328 cases were recorded during March, April, and May, the months in which the country went into lockdown, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

James Ebitu (L), the outgoing acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender handing over a report to Aggrey David Kibenge ®, the incoming during a ceremony held at Ministry offices in Kampala on Wednesday, September 30, 2020.


Tumwebaze also tasked the incoming PS to come up with stringent measures on the external recruiting companies so that they provide insurance cover to the domestic workers they offer jobs to in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"Sites on social media have a lot of videos of women crying in Arab countries due to the harsh working conditions, what are the companies that took them there doing about it?" he wondered.

Currently, Uganda has 187 recruitment firms licensed by the labour ministry with about 4,000 Ugandans working in Oman.

However, Ebitu said the ministry lacks the necessary funding to fulfill part of its mandate.

 "Currently we are experiencing a challenge of inadequate space, low staffing, and limited funding which really affects our smooth operations. I humbly request the incoming Permanent Secretary to look into it so that we can achieve our target together," he said.

Kibenge, thanked the president for the appointment and pledged to work together with the governments' key actors towards similar outcomes or priority program areas for improved synergy and better outcomes.

"I am pleased that among other government ministries, departments, agencies, and institutions, we will be working closely with education, health, and local government to achieve our targets," Kibenge said.

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