The Uganda Women Network (UWONET) has demanded a review of the Domestic Violence Act of 2010 which they say is no longer in tandem with the evolving cases of domestic violence. UWONET claims the current domestic laws do not address the various forms of domestic violence unleashed against women and girls.
Flavia Rwabuhoro Kabahenda, the chairperson of the Gender, Labour, and Social Development Committee of parliament said that gender-based violence has evolved and legislators can only be empowered to review this law by conducting an annual gender audit.
Rwabuhoro expounded that Uganda last made a national gender audit in 2013 yet it’s the one that shows the country where loopholes are in the law according to government commitment and how best they can uphold women’s and girls’ rights.
She added that civic education, mindset change, and community sensitization are the mandate of the ministry of gender but noticed that the ministry lacks funds to conduct such programs. Rwabuhoro also advised the public not to put efforts into empowering women and girls at the expense of boy children.
Ritah Achiro, the UWONET executive director, said that they want to broaden the 16 days of activism against the violence unleashed on females beyond the domestic sphere and also into the public sphere.
She also condemned the economic violence where women put in a lot of effort to make money in their homes but they can’t make decisions about it. Achiro also pointed out the political violence faced by women who get involved in politics during the electoral process or within the different political parties.
According to Achiro, over 40 percent of the women who get involved in politics have tasted violence calling upon all political parties, public offices, and civil societies where women leadership exists to stop the abuse of women.
This year’s campaign has been celebrated under the theme United Activism to End Violence against Women and girls. Uganda adopted the global theme which resonates with the urgency for collective action by all to end violence against women and girls.
Violence against Women remains the most human rights Violation against women in Uganda. The 2021 national survey on Violence against women conducted by the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics indicated that 95 percent of women have experienced physical or sexual violence or both.