The State Minister for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo has appealed to Ugandans to abandon cultural and religious practices that perpetuate gender-based violence.

Mutuuzo said this before the media in Kampala ahead of the commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence starting November 25th to December 10th 2024, aimed at raising awareness against all forms of violence against girls and women.  

The Minister says Ugandans must confront and reject customs and traditions that harm women and girls, emphasizing that these practices are not only unacceptable but also illegal.

Mutuuzo cited examples of harmful practices including child marriages and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) highlighting that globally, over 230 million girls and women have undergone FGM representing 15% increase that involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia, leading to physical and emotional harm. 

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics 2021 national survey on violence in Uganda, 95% of Ugandan women had experienced physical and/or sexual violence and the Ministry of Gender in the same year said that GBV led to at least 168 deaths.

Now, Minister Mutuuzo adds that cultural and religious practices can be considered gender based violence when they sanction or perpetuate harmful beliefs about women and girls or when they lead to violence against them.

By Charles Katabalwa

22 Nov 2024  

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