By Amvesi Andrew
Arua-Police in Arua has teamed up with Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) Prevention plus project to fight the looming cases of gender based violence (GBV) that threatens family life in Arua district.
The team has been traversing the district during the 16 days of activism campaign against GBV under the theme: “From peace in the home to peace in the nation: Male engagement for safety of women and girls.”
During the campaign, Josephine Angucia, the North Western police spokesperson warned locals against taking the law into their hands by causing havoc in their homes.
She identified alcoholism, drug abuse and land wrangle as some of the key drivers of GBV in the district.
“Most of the men in Arua today, have left the burden of looking for food in the hands of their wives. What they know is to go out and booze, smoke opium, chew mairungi and come back home to shamelessly, ask for food to eat,” Angucia stated.
Violence in most homes have either led to deaths, divorce or mistreatment of the children especially. “Once they do not get the food, they start beating their wives. Such people should be reported to police,” Angucia said.
Angucia also warned against over producing of children which they could not manage.
She instead advised locals to produce the number of children they can feed and pay in school, lest such children will become thugs and start terrorizing the community.
Some of the locals of Odramacku, testing for HIV/Aids and Hepatitis B. All Photos by Amvesi Andrew
Similarly, Geofrey Ogutu, the Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) – Arua branch project officer said it is time for people to start contributing to gender just society by respecting each other in their homes.
He observed that the 16 days of activism program was aimed at engaging the community to promote equal gender norms and prevent gender based violence among members of the society.
The function held at Odramacaku trading center in Ayivuni Sub County, Ajia trading center in Ajia Sub County, Arua government prison and Arivu Sub County headquarters among other areas attracted hundreds of locals from different walks of life.
The events were marked by drama shows, family planning messages, HIV and Hepatitis B testing and Counseling in partnership with local organizations such as Obulamu and Caritas.
