Northern Uganda | Violence against women and girls remains a pervasive violation of human rights in Uganda, particularly in the northern region, where decades of conflict, poverty, and under-resourced health systems have deepened gender inequalities.
Despite global and national efforts to end gender-based violence (GBV), experts warn that progress is painfully slow, with structural and systemic gaps continuing to fuel the cycle of violence, stigma, and exclusion.
“Violence against women and girls is not only a violation of human rights but a barrier to sustainable development,” said Dr. Pam Rajput, a noted gender justice advocate, during the SHE & Rights session commemorating the 16 Days of Activism against GBV and marking International Human Rights Day (10th December) and Universal Health Coverage Day (on December 12).
Dr. Rajput highlighted alarming global statistics, which mirror local challenges: “Over 840 million women have faced violence globally. In the past 12 months alone, millions experienced physical or sexual violence, often with little access to justice or healthcare.”
She added that even women in positions of power, such as parliamentarians and journalists, are not spared from psychological and physical violence a reality reflected in northern Uganda’s underreported cases of harassment and assault against women in public spaces.
Structural barriers and local gaps
Experts warn that patriarchal norms, underfunded enforcement agencies, and normalization of GBV continue to perpetuate violence.
Shobha Shukla, Coordinator of SHE & Rights, noted that although 165 of 193 countries have domestic violence laws, only 104 have comprehensive policies.
In Northern Uganda, similar gaps exist: police stations and local councils often lack the capacity to respond to GBV cases, while survivors face stigma that prevents them from seeking support.
“Violence against women has barely declined in the past 26 years—this is unacceptable,” Shukla emphasized.
Link between GBV, HIV, and SRHR
Northern Uganda’s women and girls are particularly vulnerable to a dangerous nexus of GBV and HIV.
Esther Asuquo, a gender and peace advocate, explained that sexual violence limits women’s ability to negotiate safer sex, increasing their risk of HIV and other infections.
Albertina Nyatsi, founder of Positive Women Together in Action, stressed the need to integrate GBV services into HIV care a crucial step missing in many rural districts of Uganda, where access to sexual and reproductive health services remains uneven.
While often associated with other regions, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) remains an underreported issue in Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region and border communities.
Dr. Huda Syyed of Sahara Sisters’ Collective emphasized that FGM/C violates women’s rights to health, bodily integrity, and equality.
She further called for local policies to prioritize ending harmful practices alongside broader SRHR initiatives.
Poverty and school dropouts
In Northern Uganda, period poverty exacerbates gender inequalities.
Angel Babirye, a Ugandan SRHR advocate, warned that one in four girls drops out of school once menstruation begins.
“Girls often use unsafe materials, including soil or sand, increasing risks of reproductive tract infections. Many are pushed into transactional sex, which heightens vulnerability to HIV, STIs, and sexual violence,” she said.
Babirye called for safe sanitation facilities, menstrual hygiene management, and community awareness to end stigma and support girls’ education.
Towards universal health coverage and rights-based interventions
Experts stressed that addressing GBV, SRHR, and related health risks is central to achieving Universal Health Coverage in Uganda. Programs that integrate mental health, HIV care, reproductive health, and protection from violence are critical.
The recently launched All-In initiative, focused on ending GBV, provides a model for locally tailored interventions, promoting leadership, accountability, and evidence-based strategies.
Lisbeth Aarup of Humana People to People India, whose organization has worked with vulnerable populations for over 25 years, stressed the importance of tackling intersectional stigma.
“Unhoused women, sex workers, and adolescent girls face multiple forms of violence, from physical assault to HIV stigma. Addressing these issues holistically is essential for public health and human rights,” she said.
Ending GBV in Northern Uganda requires connecting the dots between human rights, UHC, and gender equality. Structural reforms, increased funding, community-led interventions, and safe spaces for women and girls are key.
Experts argue that development cannot be inclusive if half the population remains at risk of violence, discrimination, and exclusion.
“Policies must center women’s safety, agency, and bodily autonomy,” Dr. Syyed said. “Only then can we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.”
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