'GBV crippling learning of children in Kasese'

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Gender-based violence (GBV) has been blamed for the ever-escalating violation of children's rights in Kasese. 

Austria-based organisation Sei Sofrei director Dr Franz Henberger says this violation of children's rights has led to the crippling of education.

Henberger made the remarks on July 9, 2024, while commissioning five and seven classroom blocks at Rwakingi and Bugoye government-aided primary Schools, respectively in Kasese district's Busongora north constituency.

According to Henberger, GBV includes the assaulting of women and children, sexual harassment, and failure to provide basic needs among others, which acts are mainly perpetrated by men.

"The worst of it all they have many children: Eight to 10 yet they can't manage to take care of them," Franz said.

Austria-based organisation Sei Sofrei director Dr Franz Henberger says this violation of children's rights has led to the crippling of education. (Photo by Samuel Amanyire)

I've been to many homes in different villages, you only find women struggling alone taking care of the children," he added.

Franz attributed some GBV acts to unfair African traditional beliefs, which make men feel superior to their wives and children, causing them to being the sole decision-makers in their homes. 

"Yet the law is very clear: All of us are equal and deserve to enjoy equal rights," he said.

The doctor recommended that it is high time men in Africa, especially Uganda, involved their wives in decision-making on matters concerning their families for a harmonious living, especially on the number of children to give birth to and take care of: "This can only be attained when there is respect for one another".

In 2022, Kasese came third countywide in cases of GBV after Wakiso and Kampala compared to the national prevalence of about 25%, with 70% of crimes being sexually related but also unmatched cases of child labour and neglect.

Michaela Langer Weninger from Austria recommended that educating children can easily help to curb GBV since the children are enriched with the knowledge of understanding their rights and in return advocate for them.

MP Sowedi speaks out 

Busongora North Member of Parliament Sowedi Kitanywa acknowledged that GBV in Kasese has remained a big challenge to address.

"This is seen mainly in the high cases of young and teenage mothers, child negligence and sexual harassment," Sowedi said.

He, however, said as the district in partnership with various non-governmental organisations and the Church have waged massive sensitisation programmes to the people and these efforts have started yielding positive results.

About the classroom projects

Florence Ithungu, the director of Ripple Foundation, a non-governmental organisation based in Kasese that has for long spearheaded the construction of classroom blocks funded by Sei Sofrei, said they intend to continue supporting government-aided primary schools with dilapidated buildings to create a safe learning environment for the children.

"Because most learners tend to change from UPE schools to private in search of good learning environment," Ithungu said.

He, however, appealed to the administration of the schools to use the opportunity of the constructed improved classroom blocks to improve the academic performance of the learners and the fact that they now have a comfortable environment for learning.