Examining the Persistence of Household Gender-Based Violence in Mityana District: A Case Study of Mityana Town Council.

Abstract

KIWANUKA JOSEPH (2009-MO23-20009) Examining the Persistence of Household Gender-Based Violence in Mityana District: A Case Study of Mityana Town Council. The study examines the persistence of gender-based violence in households in Mityana town council. It was prompted by the cases of household violence that are unearthed by the mass media and records at Mityana police station, family protection Unit, which indicated that in 2012, a total of 201 cases of domestic violence were reported. This number was too high bearing in mind that many cases related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) are not reported. Aware of the global and national interventions, persistence of GBV in Mityana town council created a great concern prompting for a study. The study intended to establish the persistence of GBV, nature of household gender-based violence, reasons for household gender-based violence, and measures taken to solve GBV in households in Mityana town council. A case study research design was used; the sample involved 51 respondents composed of victims of GBV, religious leaders, police officers, health officers, local council officials and community development officer from Mityana town council. All data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and group discussions and data was analysed using frequencies and percentages. The results revealed that there is misconception of social-economic dynamics in relation to the traditional gender requirements, weakness in domestic laws and their enforcement. The study revealed that violence in households is mainly due to mistrust, unfaithfulness and traditional attitudes in relation to men and women. Use of addictives, and handling of family issues all combine to breed into violence in homes in Mityana town council. The study recommended: empowering the communities for networking and interventions in fighting gender-based violence in households, to revisit domestic laws in line to their adequacy, awareness and enforcement and provide counselling to couples for reconciliation as strategies to fight persistence of gender-based violence in households in Mityana. Key Words: Household Gender-Based Violence, Mityana District.