Karamoja sub-region leads in spousal violence against women, with 69.2 percent of women having experienced spousal violence in their lifetime, according to a report released recently by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Austrian Embassy.
Acholi sub-region comes second in this despicable act, with 61.3 percent, followed by Lango sub-region at 48.6 percent.
It is quite unfortunate and unacceptable that women and some men are being abused and battered by spouses who are supposed to protect them and provide an environment where they can thrive.
Spousal violence has, over the years, led to the injury and death of many women. Some have been maimed for life.
Due to the physical and psychological abuse they are subject- ed to by their spouses, some victims develop mental illnesses, and unfortunately, some commit suicide.
Spousal violence also leads to the breakdown of families, with parents divorcing and children’s emotional, academic, and social well-be- ing negatively affected.
The vice is perpetuated by misguided belief in some communities that men are within their rights to beat their wives for perceived transgressions.
This misconception is so deeply root- ed in some communities that even some women also falsely believe that they de- serve to be beaten for doing wrong.
Even some members of the clergy and elders, who should be condemning this vile act in the strongest terms possible, shamelessly condone it.
People routinely let men batter their spouses without interfering, claiming that issues between a man and his wife are private and they should therefore not interfere in them.
Police officers also exhibit reluctance when dealing with issues of domestic vi- olence, inadvertently perpetuating the vile act.
Victims who express a desire to leave their abusive partners are discouraged from ending the relationship by the rel- atives, clergy, and elders, even when their lives are in danger. To curb spousal violence, we call upon the public to intervene in cases where spouses batter their partners. Stop the beatings, if you can, report the matter to the local council authorities and police for further management.
The police and local council authorities must treat the mat- ter seriously, not dismissing it as a private matter between a couple, as some of them are wont to do.
Victims with partners who batter them should leave because no relationship is worth sacrificing their safety over.
More safe shelters should be built to accommodate victims of domestic violence, and the authorities must step up efforts to educate couples against resorting to violence to resolve their differences.