LUWERO – Women leaders in Luwero district have called for actions to prevent the escalation of domestic violence in 2023, highlighting witchcraft as one of the lead to the vice.
According to the Child and Family Protection Unit, at least 245 women and 94 men reported domestic violence related cases in the last 11 months of 2022, as records at various police stations in Luwero, indicated.
Prisca Birungi, the O/C Child and Family Protection Unit at Luwero Central Police Station listed some of the causes of domestic violence as; poverty, alcoholism, greed for property, and witchcraft amongst others.
At least 650 cases of Gender Based Violence have since January been registered compared to 624 in 2021 within Luwero district.
Birungi revealed that in most cases of domestic violence – the police had reconciled the couples, with a few forwarded to court.
She pledged to scale up community policing to sensitise the community about the dangers of domestic and the law against it.
Christine Nakamanya – the vice chair, Luwero LCV called for the amplification of the fight against domestic violence through religious and political platforms in 2023 – arguing the vice was a silent demolisher of families.
Nakamanya added that women needed more support to set up income-generating activities to look after their children as a way of minimising conflicts.
Ritah Nalweyiso – the LCV councillor for Butuntumula sub County said that there was a need to scale up projects that target women and ensure they participate to benefit from them.
Brenda Nabukenya – the Luwero district Woman legislator noted that despite parliament’s passing a law that criminalises domestic violence – the vice was escalating in the communities.
Nabukenya added that even the biggest percentage of victims, who reported such cases to police, were unwilling to pursue the same because they were disadvantaged; and always need support from their perpetrators.
Nabukenya said women activists and leaders had the duty to move the fight against domestic violence from boardrooms to villages where most cases are reported.
She also asked the government to implement parliament’s resolution to construct shelters to host victims of domestic violence so as to save lives.
Dr Innocent Nkonwa – the Luwero district Health Officer said the victims sought treatment from health centres but many remember to do so when asked by Police after reporting the offences.
He added that some victims faced trauma, mental illness, and diseases because they turn up at health centres late after the attacks.
Additional reporting by URN
