By KT Reporter
A new Gender Analysis Report by CARE International–Uganda has attributed the rising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Northern Uganda to harmful social and cultural norms that give men greater power over decision-making and property ownership in many communities.
The assessment, conducted between December 2024 and January 2025 in Arua City and Terego District in the West Nile sub-region, as well as Gulu City in the Acholi sub-region, examined gender dynamics, social norms, and inequalities affecting women, men, and youth.
According to the report, physical violence remains the most common form of abuse at 40%, followed by emotional violence at 25%, among 384 participants—67% women and 33% men—from both refugee and host communities.
While presenting the report at a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Arua City, Akello Teddy, the Gender and Advocacy Advisor at CARE Uganda, explained that most cases of violence stem from cultural and religious beliefs that also discourage survivors from reporting incidents to authorities.
The Gender Analysis Assessment was carried out under the five-year Gender Equality and Resilience (GEAR) Project, which began in 2024. The project is jointly implemented by Thrive Gulu, Feminature Uganda, and the Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD) in Terego District, Omugo Refugee Settlement, Arua, and Gulu cities.
The report highlights that several social and cultural norms in the two regions perpetuate violence against both men and women. These include beliefs that reporting domestic violence affects children and that women should not own land, among others.
Alioni Gilbert, the GEAR Project Coordinator at CEFORD, urged community leaders and stakeholders to challenge and abandon such norms, saying they continue to undermine community wellbeing.
The Lugbara Cultural Institution (Lugbara Kari) has recently issued pronouncements revising several harmful cultural practices—including child marriage, women’s land ownership restrictions, and wife inheritance—to promote peaceful coexistence between men and women.
However, Tuku Ismail, the Lugbara Kari Prime Minister, said that while some cultural norms have been misinterpreted, others are simply misguided perceptions held by individuals, not official cultural teachings.
The report further shows that Gulu City recorded the highest rates of physical violence at 58% and sexual violence at 15%, while Omugo Refugee Settlement registered the highest rate of child marriages at 17%.
According to the 2024 Police Annual Crime Report, Uganda recorded 14,425 sex-related offences and 14,073 domestic violence cases out of 218,715 total reported cases in 2024.
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