Nebbi, Uganda: The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Nebbi, Robert Abark, has urged local leaders and technocrats to mainstream Gender-Based Violence (GBV) interventions into the District Development Plan IV, warning that the fight against GBV cannot succeed without structured planning and budget support at the local government level.
Speaking during a GBV Financing, Prevention, and Response Dialogue held at the Nebbi District Planning Unit Boardroom on Monday, Abark decried the persistent underfunding and poor coordination among district departments in tackling GBV cases.
“As duty bearers, there is a need to secure firm commitments through resolutions or action points that increase and sustain budget allocations for GBV prevention and response in line with Gender and Equity Budgeting standards,” Abark said.
He added that limited financial and technical support from key actors had left communities vulnerable to rising GBV cases, emphasizing that prevention and response must be integrated into annual work plans and budgets.
Leaders Call for Multi-Sectoral Approach
At the same event, Nebbi District Vice Chairperson Geoffrey Okello called for a multi-sectoral approach to tackling GBV, noting that the vice continues to rise across communities and schools.
“As duty bearers, we must enhance GBV prevention and improve access to integrated sexual and reproductive health and GBV services, especially for adolescent girls and young women in schools and communities,” Okello said.
Similarly, the District Community Development Officer (CDO), Peter Okeria, highlighted a communication gap between local leaders and communities, which he attributed to limited GBV funding across departments.
“The lack of clear budget lines for GBV activities has hindered community sensitization and response,” Okeria noted.
Commitment Despite Budget Constraints
Nebbi District Secretary for Finance Kisa Lawrence Ojok acknowledged that although the district currently has no dedicated GBV budget, leaders remain committed to addressing the challenge.
“We are aware of the growing problem, and even without a formal GBV budget, our administration is committed to working with partners to reduce the vice,” Ojok said.
Meanwhile, Christine Akumu Okot, the Principal Gender Officer at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD), urged local governments to adopt positive thinking and proactive planning to end GBV across all sectors.
“Gender-Based Violence cuts across all departments. It’s time every unit commits resources to reduce GBV cases through planning, budgeting, and implementation,” Akumu advised.
The dialogue, organized under the GBV Prevention and Response Enhancement Program, aimed to engage district officials in developing actionable strategies to strengthen GBV financing and accountability mechanisms within the district’s policy framework.
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