Gender based violence can become history if local governments are well funded

1 December 2022, 6:57 pm

Byamukama Alozious

Over the years Uganda has been registering high cases of gender based violence which has started worrying the local government authorities.

Although cases of domestic violence remain high, the funding of local governments to fighting it is lower, a reason that has caused a mediate strategic meeting to focus on how to increase local government financing for gender based violence

Benon Kigenyi who has represented the permanently secretary of local government at the meeting says that gender based violence is a global disease which needs immediate attention to prevent it since it affects the physical stability of a person, takes away money and time hence affecting general economic growth of the entire country. He urges the general public, local activists and politicians to be concerned and report cases to the local council courts for immediate action.

Julius Mukunda from Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBGAG) challenges the government to finance local governments as the only solution to containing GBV cases to zero. Mukunda says local governments get a burden to get funds from central government, yet if the local governments are directly funded, it will make it easier to reach victims and survivors of GBV.

Recently the minister in charge of gender, labour and social development, Hon. Betty Among, while officiating the beginning of 16 days of activism at media center in Kampala, said 223 women and young girls die annually to GBV and this costs the government 77 bilion which goes to treatment of victims, court cases, among others.

According to the Police Annual Crime Report 2021, a total of 16,242 cases were recorded. Out of these 8,064 were domestic violence, 6,838 defilement, 749 rape and 223 were aggravated domestic violence that resulted in death.

Ms. Luta Shaba, Spotlight Initiative Program Coordinator at Office of the UN Resident Coordinator Uganda noted in her remarks that Uganda is among the few countries in the whole world that are implementing the Spotlight Program in response to fighting gender based violence and is confident that together with support from central government to local governments there will be a great change.