Gender-Based Violence on the Rise in Uganda: An Analysis with Recent Cases.

By Susanie Nannozi Ggoobi, Gender Expert at Gateway Research Centre, Uganda

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has emerged as an escalating crisis in Uganda that poses a dire threat to the rights of women and girls. In 2020, Gateway Research Centre wrote a policy brief on how COVID-19 had worsened domestic violence in Uganda. We provided several policy recommendations to address these, especially by allocating more human and financial resources to prevent and handle cases of domestic violence in Uganda.

Despite the enactment of laws and policies aimed at curbing GBV such as the Domestic Violence Act of 2010 and the Penal Code, cases of violence continue to rise. This troubling trend not only thwarts efforts toward gender equality but also fuels cycles of poverty, trauma, and social unrest. The recent tragic case that underscores the gravity of this crisis happened in Kenya in September 2024 when the purported spouse of Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan athlete poured fuel on her and set her a blaze, leading to her death. It was unfortunate that after a few days, the spouse also succumbed to death after sustaining serious injuries during the attack. Such incidents that have even led to loss of lives accentuate the perilous effects of GBV.

Understanding Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence encompasses various forms of abuse that target individuals based on their gender. It primarily includes physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, with women and girls often being the most affected. Uganda’s entrenched patriarchal structures make it difficult for many women to seek help, speak out, or even recognise the abusive nature of their situations. Uganda being a multicultural nation, there are diverse socio-cultural norms across societies that seem normal but often violate human rights. In societies like Sebei and Karamoja regions, conservative harmful practices are still ongoing, such as child marriages, battering women, and denial of education to girls. A case in point, in such settings, the family of a girl can marry her off to get the bride price even when she has not yet reached the adult age of 18 years as stipulated by the Uganda constitution. Such societies experience many cases of sexual exploitation and domestic abuse.

According to the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS), 56% of women aged 15 to 49 had experienced physical violence, while 22% had experienced sexual violence. These statistics indicate that GBV is not a peripheral issue but a deeply embedded societal problem.
The Case of Rebecca Cheptegei
The tragic death of Rebecca Cheptegei stands out as a recent instance of GBV that sparked widespread debate beyond Uganda Rebecca, a female Uganda national, aged 26 was brutally murdered by her partner in September 2024. Reports indicated that she had endured years of domestic violence that subsequently cost her life. Her case highlights the rising trend of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), where women endure abuse, and in extreme cases, lose their lives at the hands of their partners.

Rebecca’s death exposed the loopholes in local systems meant to protect victims of domestic violence. Despite awareness of her situation, neighbours and friends reportedly never invested due effort to intervene. Despite the availability of legal frameworks and protection orders, law enforcement agencies often fail to act promptly due to resource limitations or the normalization of domestic violence within society.

Rebecca’s case is a testament to the barriers that women face when trying to escape abusive relationships. Notable challenges such as economic dependency, social stigma, and inadequate legal support often prevent women from escaping abusive partners. Many victims, like Rebecca, stay in abusive relationships due to fear of retaliation until the violence reaches a fatal conclusion.
Other Notable Cases

While Rebecca Cheptegei's case has received significant attention, it is far from an isolated incident. Several high-profile GBV cases have occurred across Uganda, each highlighting different forms of violence.

1. Susan Nantambi. In 2023, a young woman from Mukono district known as Susan was kidnapped, gang-raped, killed and her body was dumped in a swamp. Her case exposed deep flaws in Uganda’s criminal justice system when the suspects were initially released due to insufficient evidence until public outcry eventually led to the reopening of the investigations.
The Busia Bride Price Murder. In a similar shocking case, a woman from Busia district was killed by her husband following a dispute over bride price. Forced into marriage at a young age, and years of abuse, the woman refused to continue submitting to her husband’s demands, the act that led to violent confrontation which culminated in her death.
Child Marriage Cases. Child marriage continues to drive GBV, especially in rural areas. Many young girls are forced to marry old men who are not even their choices, leading to unhappy marriages, and lifetime physical and sexual abuse. For instance, in 2023, a 13-year-old girl in Karamoja was rescued after being sold off for marriage by her father to a man thrice her age.
Factors Contributing to the Rise of GBV in Uganda
Several factors have contributed to the increasing levels of GBV in Uganda. Key drivers include poverty, unemployment, and economic inequality which result in financial stress that exacerbates tensions within families. Poor women are particularly vulnerable to abuse as they lack financial independence, rendering them to be subordinated to abusive men.
Cultural norms play a significant role in perpetuating GBV. In many Ugandan communities, men have the authoritative power to control and discipline their wives as they are viewed as the heads of the family. This patriarchal perception fosters an environment where abuse of women by men seems normal since they claim the right to do so.
Another key factor is the weak enforcement of laws. Although Uganda has established legal frameworks that protect women from violence, their implementation remains inadequate. This is worsened by insufficient funding of law enforcement agencies such as the police and corruption within the justice system that impedes victims of GBV from seeking justice. Additionally, the fear of stigma or further violence results in many cases of GBV going unreported to authorities.
Despite women and girls being more vulnerable to GBV, men and boys in Uganda have been equally affected moreover on a rising rate. Unfortunately, very few men can swallow their pride and society’s respect to report women to law-enforcement bodies like police. They fear being judged by society as being cowards and weak. It is very rare to take a month without hearing a case of a man being killed by his wife in Uganda. In most cases it is due to fights over property and in other instances, it is due to misunderstandings arising from denial of conjugal rights.
The Role of Civil Society and Government in Addressing GBV
Both the government and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have spearheaded efforts to address GBV. The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development has unwaveringly raised awareness about GBV by conducting campaigns on media that point out the causes, effects and how to avoid it. Similarly, Civil Society implements empowerment programs aimed at boosting the economic status of women to reduce their vulnerability to abuse by men.
CSOs play a crucial role in providing support to GBV survivors. Organisations such as ActionAid Uganda and the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) provide free services like shelters, legal aid, and counselling services to victims among other humanitarian aid. Other initiatives including campaigns such as "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence" have helped to raise awareness, encouraging more women to report abuse and seek justice.
However, while these efforts are commendable, much more remains to be done. Stronger law enforcement mechanisms, increased funding for GBV prevention programs, more awareness raising, and sensitization campaigns aimed at challenging harmful gender norms are paramount.
Conclusion

Gender-based violence in Uganda is a multifaceted issue that requires urgent attention and coordinated efforts across all sectors of society. The tragic case of Rebecca Cheptegei and other recent GBV incidents are indicators of the escalating GBV crisis. While progress has been made in addressing GBV in Uganda, the rise in cases highlights the need for more robust united efforts. To curb GBV, the government of Uganda needs to strengthen its legal frameworks, and finance services that protect both men and women in addition to raising awareness against cultural norms, beliefs, and attitudes that breed Gender-Based Violence.