Masindi authorities commit to fight against SGBV
He emphasized the need to build local capacity so that the fight against SGBV continues even after the AWESOME program ends.
Masindi: Authorities and key stakeholders in Masindi District have pledged renewed and intensified efforts to combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), following a high-level engagement convened by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE).
The commitment was made during one-day Strategic Engagement and Lobby Event to discuss and develop joint sustainable actions and advocacy to advance women’s leadership and prevent Sexual and Gender Based Violence( SGBV) held at Masindi Country Inn Hotel on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, was organized under FOWODE’s five-year “Advancing Women’s Engagement; Strengthening Opportunities to Mobilize for Equality (AWESOME)” program, which is approaching its conclusion this year.
Speaking during the event, Michael Ayesiga, Program Assistant at FOWODE, raised several critical concerns affecting girls in schools and the broader community. He cited low enrolment rates, such as in Miduuma Primary School in Kijunjubwa Sub-county, where out of 225 pupils, only 95 were girls.
He attributed this to parents’ poor attitudes toward public primary education and the burden placed on girls to stay home and care for cattle, increasing their vulnerability to early marriage and defilement.
Ayesiga also highlighted a lack of emergency sanitary pads in schools, a key factor behind high absenteeism and dropout rates among girls. “For example, Kinuuma Primary School in Miirya Sub-county lacked emergency sanitary pads, although the headteacher pledged to address this using the Universal Primary Capitation (UPC) grant in the next term,” he said.
Additionally, several schools such as Kyabaswa Primary School, Kayera Primary School, and Bulyango Public School were found to lack SGBV prevention messages, leaving pupils uninformed and vulnerable. “This ignorance increases the risk of victimization for girls and the likelihood of boys and even teachers becoming perpetrators,” Ayesiga emphasized.
He also revealed disturbing findings about absenteeism. At Nyakarongo Primary School in Kiruli Sub-county, 98 of 267 pupils most of them girls were absent, mainly to care for siblings or help in gardens. He also reported unsafe infrastructure, such as a weak latrine wall at Bulyango Public School and inadequate sanitation at Mihembero Primary School, where a single five-stance latrine is shared among all students and teachers.
On the health front, Ayesiga pointed to the lack of electricity at Mihembero Health Centre II and limited maternity infrastructure at various health centers, including Kitanyata HC II and Alimugonza HC II, where only one delivery bed serves the entire facility. Water scarcity and poor sanitation were also flagged at Kigezi Health Centre.
To address these challenges, FOWODE urged for inclusive decision-making and the active involvement of women and local leaders in SGBV response strategies.
Representing the District Education Officer, Joseph Isingoma, the District Sports Officer, pledged to ensure that all schools have SGBV awareness messages, improved safety guidelines, and access to emergency sanitary pads. He also confirmed a budget allocation for a new five-stance latrine at Mihembero Primary School.
Felix Twinomugisha, Acting District Health Officer, revealed that the district is planning to install reliable solar systems at all Health Centre IIs, with construction of a new latrine at Mihembero HC II set to begin once funds are released.
‘’The district is planning to connect all health centres to power to enable our health workers execute their duties without any challenge,’’ he said.
Clare Businge Wamara, the District Senior Labour Officer, announced that a proposal has been submitted to establish a rehabilitation and vocational training centre for SGBV survivors.
Musa Kyamiza, Assistant Secretary in the Chief Administrative Officer’s office, emphasized the need to build local capacity so that the fight against SGBV continues even after the AWESOME program ends.
FOWODE Programs Officer, Moureen Kyomuhendo, assured that the organization will follow up on all commitments to ensure they are implemented beyond the program’s lifespan. ‘’We shall follow-up all the commitments that have been pledged by the stakeholders,’’ she added.
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