Carrying babies on back, Ugandan police-officers march against domestic violence
Officers of the Ugandan Police Force put up an unlikely show of protest against domestic violence last week. Tying a baby to the back, carrying a clay pot on head, the officers raised onlookers' eyebrows, as they walked towards Uganda's capital Kampala. The officers were protesting domestic violence, by 'walking in women's shoes'.
No country for women: Gender-based-violence crimes extremely high in Uganda
Government data shows half of the Ugandan population favors violence against women when they burn food or fail to look after children. 1 in 3 women is physically abused by their partners but rarely report it. Traditional practices like child marriage (though it's banned) contribute to gender-based violence. In 2017, about 20 women were found raped and murdered.
Even political leaders aren't safe in Uganda
Opposition leader Zaina Fatuma was stripped naked in broad daylight in 2015, on the pretext of breaking the law. The Anti-Pornography act of 2014 banned indecent dressing in the country and girls whose skirts were 'apparently' above knee were stripped by mobs of men. According to this new law, women aren't allowed to wear sleeveless clothes, show cleavage, or even have bright colored hair.
Ugandan politician promoting domestic violence sheds light on country's problem
Days after President Yoweri Museveni said men who beat their wives are cowards, Ugandan MP Onesimus Twinamasiko said, "You need to touch her a bit, you tackle her, beat her somehow to really streamline her," earlier this year.
'Notorious' police department speaks against domestic violence, surprises many
The Ugandan Police Force hasn't actually behaved as 'protector of law'. Reportedly, corruption, torturing suspects and breaking opposition rallies, are all the police concerns itself with. So, when officers carried placards reading, "Peace in the home. Peace in the nation. Prevent Gender-Based Violence", citizens were surprised. "There are (officers) who are badly behaved, But there are those who are good," said officer Francis Ogweng.
This might be a beginning of change, says hopeful officer
"If a man, a police officer, can carry a baby, can carry a pot, then other men can do it ... Men even called me afterwards and said: 'You have opened my eyes' ... So I think people are beginning to understand," said Ogweng.
