Rights organisations raise alarm over rising intimate partner violence in Kitgum, Lamwo

9 March 2025, 08:27

By James Patrick Odongo

A coalition of rights organisations, including the Women and Rural Development Network (WORUDET), has issued a pressing statement on the escalating incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Kitgum and Lamwo districts. The statement, released on 7 March 2025, emphasises the need for collective action to combat IPV.

Advocates stressed the importance of engaging men and boys in meaningful discussions, as they are often the perpetrators of IPV. “We must not leave men behind in the fight against IPV,” emphasised one advocate.

The statement also highlighted the need for a multi-faceted approach to address IPV. Denish Ocan from the Uganda Law Society emphasised that IPV is not just a moral issue, but also a legal one. “We need action, not just advocacy,” he stressed.

Other organisations, such as Seminet and FOWAC, pointed to the lack of support from families and cultural leaders in addressing IPV. Acan Millicent from FOWAC noted that women often feel marginalised and are reluctant to report cases of IPV.

Brenda Akot, the Programme Manager of the Women and Rural Development Network (WORUDET), emphasised the need for individuals to reflect on their own behaviours and be change agents in preventing IPV. “We must desist from using big words like ‘RESPECT’ and instead focus on exemplary behaviour,” she said.

The coalition urged the government, civil society, and individuals to work together to address the rising incidence of IPV in Kitgum and Lamwo districts.

According to the 2024 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, a total of 14,126 individuals were victims of domestic violence, 10,276 of whom were female adults, 3,161 male adults, 323 male juveniles, and 366 female juveniles.