Bukedi, Acholi regions Lead in Intimate Partner violence

Bukedi sub-region leads with the highest intimate partner violence, according to a report on gender-based violence tabled by the Minister of Gender, Betty Amongi.

In her statement during Wednesday's plenary sitting, Amongi who was presenting a report in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, said Bukedi ranked highest with 48%, while Acholi followed with 47% and Elgon at 33%. South Buganda registered the lowest rate of intimate partner violence at 8%.

Amongi was quoting the National Survey on Violence Against Women (2021) conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). According to this survey, 95% of respondents had experienced physical or sexual violence, or both, by partners, or non-partners, since the age of 15 years, with a lifetime prevalence of intimate partner sexual violence was at 36%, whereas physical violence among ever-partnered women was at 45%.

“The survey further revealed that 47% of women face economic violence, while sexual violence by non-partners, since age 15 years, stood at 55%, with 14% perpetrated by close relatives and emotional violence stood at 55%,” Among said.

The 16 Days of Activism Campaign will commence on 25th November, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This global campaign was inaugurated in 1991 and spearheaded by the Women's Global Leadership Institute (WGLI), a program at Rutgers University in New Jersey USA which trains women in leadership based on global good and practice.

The campaign has since grown globally and is marked by a wide range of activities organized by various stakeholders. This year 2022, marks the 31st Anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. Among said that since Uganda engaged into the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, there has been increased public awareness on gender-based violence as a human right, public health, economic and social issue at the family, community, and national levels.

Whereas the national launch was scheduled to take place at Hotel Africana tomorrow, 24th November, MPs resolved that the launch is done in a village setting where gender-based violence is rampant. “Why wouldn’t we have this launch in Bukedea where the percentage of GBV is high or Nakapiririt where girls get married when they are 10 years?” Speaker Anita Among asked.