According to statistics from UN Women, more than half of the women in Uganda suffer from some sort of domestic violence at the hands of possible spouses or lovers. However, the stakeholders in the struggle to avert the vice said it was increasingly becoming hard to attain justice even in the cases that end up at the Police or Courts of law.
Principal Judge Justice Yorokamu Bamwine noted that the judiciary was finalizing a strategy that would see gender-based violence cases handled expeditiously by among other things having specific Courts. “We can have a special Court for people who violet the rights of women. It is possible, it’s about getting premises and judicial officers to manage the Court.” Said Yorokamu Bamwine – Principal Judge. He added that the inefficiencies in the justice system were being driven by various factors such as pressures from society, threats from perpetrators but largely by facilitation and staffing. “Women have enough protection in the Constitution, in the national laws but when it comes to implementing what is contained in the Constitution the institutions are weak.” Said Yorokamu Bamwine – Principal Judge.
Anna Mutavati the Deputy Country Representative at UN Women said statistics relating to gender-based violence in the country were frustrating and indicative of worsening victimization of women at different fronts. “56% of women, so that’s more than half of the female population in Uganda. Saying aged between 15 and 49, again saying that they have experienced one form or another of violence at the hands of their spouses or loved ones.” Said Anna Mutavati – Deputy Country Representative.
The Police noted that though there was an improved reporting of gender-based violence cases, the investigations were usually derailed by victims’ understanding of violence and the position of the law versus the community beliefs. “In most cases women who come to report cases, they really want the violence to stop. Once they need this violence to stop, it means that they are going to stay happy in their homes. But as a Police officer, I really see that I need to take this person to Court which the client never wants. They want the violence to stop yes but they do not want to go to Court.” SSP Atuhaire Maureen –Child & Family Protection Unit.
