Bamasaaba leaders urge action against Gender-Based Violence

Mbale, Uganda:– The Bamasaaba community has been urged to take decisive steps in eliminating gender-based violence (GBV) and its devastating consequences, including loss of life.

Speaking to the media on domestic violence in the Elgon region, Steven Masiga, the spokesperson for the Bamasaaba Cultural Institution, emphasized the urgent need for peaceful coexistence. He reiterated that it is both a moral and legal obligation to prevent violence within families and communities.

“As a cultural institution, we have a duty to guide our people towards living in harmony. No one has the right to take another person’s life. The Constitution of Uganda, along with punitive laws such as the Penal Code Act, criminalizes such acts,” Masiga stated.

His remarks come in the wake of a series of alarming domestic violence incidents. In Bududa and Namisindwa districts, two men recently murdered their wives in separate incidents.

Similarly, in Mbale City, a man reportedly strangled his 15-year-old girlfriend, a student at Nakaloke Secondary School, inside a lodge, while another young graduate was allegedly killed by unidentified assailants in Namakwekwe.

Masiga emphasized the cultural institution’s responsibility to engage communities in fostering peaceful relationships and curbing the rising cases of GBV. He warned that domestic violence is not only a personal issue but a societal problem with far-reaching consequences.

“Domestic violence has disrupted many families, leading to negative spillover effects such as children ending up on the streets and an increase in related crimes, including murder, robbery, and theft,” he noted.

He further pointed out that early and excessive alcohol consumption is a contributing factor to domestic violence, urging the Bamasaaba leadership to intensify sensitization efforts on the dangers of alcoholism.

“We must educate our people on the consequences of alcohol abuse and its link to domestic violence. The cultural institution has a role to play in advocating for responsible behavior and ensuring a safer society,” Masiga added.

The Bamasaaba spokesperson called for greater awareness of Uganda’s legal provisions on domestic violence, murder, and theft, stressing that ignorance of the law should not be an excuse for criminal behavior.