Uganda stalls16 law on domestic violence: 45 18/03/2010 Joseph Malinga, Liz Ford, governance, guardian.co.uk, Katine, news, politics and history, Ugan

Uganda stalls16 law on domestic violence: 45 18/03/2010 Joseph Malinga, Liz Ford, governance, guardian.co.uk, Katine, news, politics and history, Uganda, women, world news, Guardian Unlimited

?? Museveni criticized for not signing the bill
?? Will impact the new law on rural communities?

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, has been criticized for not signing a bill on domestic violence law.

Alice Alas, the general secretary of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the main opposition party in Uganda, said the president still does not give the consent bill, despite being approved by Parliament. It was given the green light by the cabinet more than a year ago. Alas said this meant women's rights continue to be undermined in Uganda.

"We have passed several laws that the president has promised, except domestic violence law, but women continued to be abused," he said.

During the celebrations to mark the International Women's Day in Katine last week, Minister of State for Youth and Children, Jessica alup, said the delay was because the president is still studying the bill. Apparently, the sections of the bill have been opposed, but did not elaborate on which sections.

The bill would offer legal protection to people in abusive relationships for the first time.

Currently, most women have no voice in matters concerning their home life, and many have lost their lives through domestic violence.

The bill aims to protect victims of domestic violence, punish the guilty and guidelines for the courts in the protection and compensation for battered women.

The bill defines a domestic relationship as "a family relationship, a relationship like a family relationship or one in a home environment that exists or existed between victim and perpetrator." These relationships are those between spouses, relatives and between households and domestic workers.

According to figures from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics in 2007, 68% of married women between 15 and 49 had experienced some form of violence by their spouse or partner.

Under the Reform Act of 2006 Uganda study by the Commission, domestic violence is more common in northern Uganda where it was reported that occurred in 78% of households. Most women do not report domestic violence to the authorities and police rarely intervene or investigate.

Often women are reluctant to complain for fear of reprisals, shame, poverty, ignorance of the law or not knowing where to report abuse.

A report published on the website Refworld, citing figures from various sources, found that 60% of men and 70% of women in Uganda approves "wife beating if, for example, a woman burns the food or denies sex.

In rural areas such as Katine, where African doctors and Research Foundation (AMREF) is implementing a development project funded by the readers of the Guardian and Barclays, domestic violence cases are often treated in the community rather of by the police. In most cases, this means that the women returned to their partners. Often, leaders of the parish was initially brought in conflicts between couples. More serious cases are transmitted to the sub-leaders of the county or district officer gender, which may encourage police involvement.

Cases of domestic violence have impeded the emancipation of women in Katine, said Christine Agwero, a representative of women in Katine sub-county council. Women often do not attend meetings or take leadership positions because they are threatened by their husbands, she said.

Speaking at the International Women's Day, Agwero asked the government to protect women and provide opportunities for economic empowerment.

In the mid-term workshop held in Soroti last year to discuss progress in Katine, Agwero expressed concern over the lack of women in attendance and the threat of violence some face when they want to get involved.

"Seriously, we need to bring on board women to participate in committees. It is necessary for both sides ... that we must move together to achieve development," he said.

He explained that a major barrier to women taking a more active role was the lack of education, which affected his confidence. "If they are not well educated, women are afraid to answer questions [at meetings]."

He added: "Women are very busy, but not so busy." Some men feel women should be at the meetings, which will have to take care of children if the women go. "

The workshop attendees heard from other women had been beaten by their husbands to attend the village savings and loans, which have had a positive impact on the lives of women in the sub-county, as a means to save and invest money.

Alas said that the delay in implementing the law, the worse the situation to get women in rural communities.

Once approved the law, it rests with local government officials to ensure that is correctly interpreted in their communities and that men and women know their rights.

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Joseph Malinga
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