UGANDA

THEMATIC ISSUES
Impacts of the conflicted relationship between men and women
A strong consensus exists throughout the country that the changes described above
have led to an increase in domestic violence as men attempt to (re)assert their power
through violence. One divergent opinion came from a woman in Kitgum, who claimed
that before the war, beatings of women by their husbands occurred as often, but the
beatings became harder to bear. She said
“Before, women could stand the beating because they were
eating very well. But because of being fed with food from
donations, they are now weak and can’t stand the beating
anymore.”
Though less common, it was agreed that not only do men beat women, but women also
beat men. Feelings of powerlessness, emasculation and undermined self-esteem were
not considered a figment of men’s imagination. Some women said that a man who does
not provide is less of a man. In Nakapiripirit, participants spoke of ‘injured pride’ of men
by women. When for example men fail to secure access to herds of cattle, women refer
to men in derogatory terms like “weak men”, “women” or “useless”.
Participants around the country lamented that conflict between men and women often
results in the breakdown of families and the institution of marriage, to the detriment
of children. In Arua it was said that women had misinterpreted the discourse on rights
and equality and were increasingly engaging in adultery, just to ‘prove’ their equality. In
Kasese, it was said that men are chased away from marital homes because they cannot
provide for the economic wellbeing of their families, and that when they are chased
away they sometimes go for much younger girls, leading to defilement. A woman in
Kasese commented
“Many families have separated because young men are now
going for girls of 15 years.”
Rape of women by men, particularly during times of armed conflict, was widely regarded
as one of the most serious consequences of the conflicted relationship between men
and women. In Bundibugyo, it was said that Government soldiers and civilians alike
raped women both during and after open political conflict. A participant remarked
“Wars exposed men to the aggressive behaviour of rape.”
UNEMPLOYED YOUTH AS A CONFLICT RISK FACTOR
With 77% of the population under the age of 30 in 2005, 50 Uganda has the youngest age
structure of any country in the world. 51 In 2010 children between 0 and 14 years of age
50 Population Action International (2010) The effects of a very young age structure in Uganda: country
case study [Internet] Available from: [Accessed 27 May 2014]
51 Ibid
45