The West Nile Police reported a reduction in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases in 2024, with 626 cases documented compared to 817 in 2023, reflecting a decrease of 191 cases.
These included 502 domestic violence cases, 112 defilement cases, nine rapes, and three incidents of indecent assault, according to SP Jimmy Anguyo, the Gender-Based Violence Focal Person at the West Nile Regional Police.
Despite the decline, Anguyo noted that the figures remain high, as the sub-region ranks third nationally for SGBV cases, after Buganda and Busoga. He attributed the prevalence to several factors, including poor parenting, absentee parents due to work commitments, and cultural norms that normalize wife-beating as a sign of love.
“Parents have become permanent absentees in their homes due to formal work systems. When someone works in Juba, the children are here, or when children are in Juba, parents are in Kampala. So, children grow up uncontrollably,” Anguyo said.
Poverty was highlighted as a key driver of early marriages, with West Nile recording the second-highest rate of multidimensional poverty in Uganda at 39%, compared to the national prevalence of 23%, as per the 2024 National Housing and Population Census (NHPC).
Alfred Matua, the Community Liaison Officer for Arua City’s Central Division, emphasized that resource and capacity constraints within the police force hinder the effective investigation and resolution of SGBV cases. Matua noted that many complainants drop their cases due to financial constraints, creating a culture of impunity and emboldening offenders.
“When someone is not punished for what they have done, they are likely to believe their actions were justified,” Matua warned.
Matua also pointed to cultural practices, particularly child marriages, as a barrier in combating defilement. The NHPC report revealed that West Nile recorded 47,529 marriages involving children aged 10-17 in 2024, underscoring the need for urgent intervention to address harmful traditions and safeguard children’s rights.