Gender-Based Violence financing needs to focus on its drivers at local levels: Experts
Drake Nyamugabwa
Despite the presence of laws and policies to protect victims and survivors, Violence Against Women &Girls (VAWG) is on the increase in Uganda.
According to the 2021 annual crime report, it indicates that 17533 cases of domestic violence were reported in 2021.
The report also indicates domestic cases were mainly caused by disputes over family property, failure to provide for families, drug and alcohol abuse, and infidelity, while the police annual crime report shows that by December 2021, 1640 cases were taken to court, 464 of which secured convictions, 14 cases acquitted and 105 cases dismissed, with 17533 victims of domestic violence,12877 were females, 3103 males and the rest were children.
Experts in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) have called on an increased budget allocation of financing at all levels to improve the situation and enjoy some of the potential benefits associated with Financing GBV prevention including; Improved economic outcomes, Reduced incidences of GBV, Improve health outcomes among others.
Stakeholders during the Strategic meeting on increased Local Government financing for Gender-Based Violence said that with Violence Against Women and Girls remaining epidemically high in Uganda, it hinders social and economic development, and prevents girls’ and women’s equal participation at social and political levels.
The experts from different agencies concurred together that there is a need to focus on GBV funding to the drivers that cause it including poverty, literacy levels, culture, and economic dependence among others factors.
The Under Secretary Ministry of Local Government Benon Kigenyi, pictured above while giving the keynote speech during the strategic meeting said that while GBV is a global phenomenon whose reaching impacts undermine human rights and development, the government of Uganda is also cognisant of GBV as a critical public, human rights and social economic concern
“The Government of Uganda recognizes GBV as a critical public, human rights, and social-economic concern. This is because it happens all over the world and affects growth & development” he said
The Under Secretary added that there is a need to integrate GBV into the plans and budget of local government with the support of all partners, calling upon all stakeholders to take up solidarity and unity in the fight against GBV.
The Executive Director Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) Julius Mukunda told participants that in order to increase GBV funding from the government and partners, there is a need to prioritize GBV to attract funding.
“There is a need to make GBV an interest to the government so that it’s prioritized. There is always this talk of the government is broke and personally, I don’t agree with it because the government spends money where it has interest and that money will be there” he said
He said that financing GBV prevention and response in Uganda through local government structures is critical in minimizing the vice.
The ED added that the National Budget Framework Paper in the pipeline needs to be scrutinized to ensure that it prioritizes GBV finance allocation and fill the gaps.
Ms. Judith Mutabazi from National Planning Authourity, while presenting on Integration of GBV prevention and Response intervention in District Development Plans said;
“We are aware that GBV has financial and social costs. The cost of GBV is approximately 77.5 Billions, how can we reduce the prevalence of GBV and cut costs”
She noted that LGs should include a specified budget code to tag all resources on role mitigation, response and prevention expenses for GBV in their work plans and budgets.
From the panel discussion, in above picture, it was noted that about 70% of the officials in the set MDAs and LGs have limited or no knowledge at all regarding compilations and analysis of disaggregated data. 85% of the officials have limited or no skills at all to mainstream VAWG
The Speaker of Rwampara District Mr. Mwesigwa Jotham said that when discussing GBV issues, focus shouldn't be put at women and girls only as culprits, men and boys are suffering too, they are being beaten and have nowhere to run to
"The issue of GBV has been seen as affecting only women and girls but men and boys are suffering in silence. Organizations are empowering women and the biggest question is, who will empower the boy-child?” he said
Ms. Luta Shaba the Spotlight Initiative Program Coordinator at Office of the UN Resident Coordinator Uganda in her remarks noted that Uganda being among the few countries in the whole world that are implementing the Spotlight Program said that a conversation about incest in families need to be discussed at length.
“COVID-19 lock down led to increased teenage pregnancies; however, these girls were locked in families with their brothers, fathers etc, doesn't this mean that something was going on within these families?” she wondered
The Strategic meeting on increased Local Government financing for Gender-Based Violence held on 1st December 2022 at Imperial Hotel was organized by the Ministry of Local governments, together with CSBAG, with support from partners aimed at finding ways of advocating for increased financing of GBV interventions in District Development Plans and Budgets, attracted participants from CSOs, UNDP, NPA, ULGA among others.
