- FGM can result in severe bleeding
- Prevalence of FGM has come down from 1.4 percent in 2011 to 0.3 percent in 2016
- Government of Uganda enacted the Anti-FGM Act of 2010
Image: AAIU
The insufficient road infrastructure and the absence of schools and other vital social services poses a significant obstacle to the efforts of both the Government and civil society organizations (CSOs) to eliminate the harmful cultural practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Sebei and Karamoja sub-regions.
Female Genital Mutilation involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other non-medical injury to the female genital organs.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), FGM can result in severe bleeding, urination problems, childbirth complications, and an increased risk of newborn deaths.
In an attempt to eliminate the practice, the Government of Uganda enacted the Anti-FGM Act of 2010. Nevertheless, the practice persists in various areas.
This information came to light during a meeting led by adolescents with policymakers regarding the availability of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual Protective Health Services.
The meeting was organized by Action Aid International Uganda (AAIU) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Local leaders emphasized during the meeting at Akello Hotel in Soroti City on July 19, 2024, that in certain remote areas, FGM is still being conducted clandestinely and openly in some rural villages, primarily due to the lack of access roads and essential services such as schools.
The gathering brought together youth leaders, activists, District Chairpersons, District Community Development Officers (DCDOs), and other local leaders at various levels.
They noted that in areas where schools have been established, the practice of FGM has decreased, thanks to the awareness and change in mindset that both students and their parents have received from educational institutions.
Image: AAIU
Festo Majinjach, the program coordinator of Sabiny Transformation Initiative, pointed out that the custom is still common in hard-to-reach areas.
“In most of these areas, there is no immediate recourse when the practice occurs, as they lack police presence and the geographical setting makes it challenging for law enforcement to respond promptly when contacted, stressing that even the network is poor,” he stated.
He mentioned that the most at-risk communities in the Sebie and Karamoja sub-regions are typically those residing near Mt. Elgon National Park, as well as those living in the lower plains of the Sebei sub-region.
“These are places far away from the district and urban centers, away from the main roads,” he noted.
He mentioned that accessing areas such as Lemusui in Nakapiripit, which are mountainous and not easily reachable, requires hiking up steep hills on foot or traveling approximately 200 kilometers through Amudat district.
Festo cited sub-counties like Kapsindai in Kapchorwa, situated on an escarpment, and areas like Kaptanya in the lower part of Sebei, which lack proper roads, adding that the lower part of this area borders Bulambuli, creating a bushy environment where perpetrators always take advantage to cut women and girls.
During the event, the Male Champions through their Male Action Groups (MAGs) and Female Action Groups, pledged to leverage their connections to access schools and raise awareness among their peers regarding the dangers linked to harmful practices like FGM, sexual and gender-based violence, child marriages, teenage pregnancy, and unsafe abortion, among various other concerns.
Majinjach reported that in 2021, there was a notable rise in incidents of FGM in Sebei, with individuals resisting the Anti-FGM law and asserting that they would not allow their cultural traditions to be eliminated.
As a result, four girls in Kaptererwo Sub County in Bukwo district reportedly died from severe bleeding.
“The aftermath of the circumcision took place in secret. The four girls lost their lives because the perpetrators hurried to perform the procedure when they heard the police approaching. Unfortunately, these girls did not receive any medical assistance and passed away from excessive bleeding,” he stated.
Image: AAIU
He did observe a decrease in FGM cases in urban areas as a result of better infrastructure, availability of social and economic services, and increased police presence.
Additionally, he pointed out that many affected areas lack essential facilities like schools, clean water sources, and healthcare centers.
“This results in a high illiteracy rate and a lack of value for education among the majority of the population. It has been recognized that education can significantly contribute to eliminating harmful practices like FGM. However, the absence of schools means that young girls are at risk of being subjected to mutilation and early marriage. Consequently, there is a high prevalence of child marriages and teenage pregnancies. It is imperative to take action by establishing more schools in order to create informed communities,” he added.
Statistics from the Uganda Demographics and Health Survey (UDHS, 2016) indicate that prevalence of FGM has come down from 1.4 percent in 2011 to 0.3 percent in 2016.
On his Part, Sam Ononge, the AAIU Program Officer in charge of implementing the UNFPA program, noted that they are already working with over 300 members of MAGs that include both the elderly and youth.
“The MAGs are an integral part of the community structures collaborating with AAIU to expedite the eradication of FGM. The concept was conceived upon recognizing that men play a significant role in the practice. We realized a boy child must be involved in this if we are eliminate FGM forever and us seeing positive results. That is why holding such discussions is essential to engage more young people to join us in reshaping the perspectives of others,” Ononge noted.
The Bukwo District Community Development Officer, Ben Sakajja, mentioned the significance of working together with young individuals and male advocates to actively involve fellow youth and oversee the conditions in different villages.
He underscored that aside from FGM being commonly seen as a tradition for womanhood and a factor in child marriage, poverty, insufficient parenting, and an unjust legal system are also major contributors to child marriage.
Denis Athiyo, the Community Development Officer for Nakapiripi District, highlighted the significant impact of youth-led campaigns in changing mindsets among their peers in the ongoing fight againt FGM, GBV and other harmful cultural norms.
David Mande, a prominent male advocate and a activista from Kween district, stressed the necessity for increased government vigilance in rural villages, especially in remote areas, to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
He also noted that despite a decline in reported cases of FGM, the harmful practice still persists in certain parts of northeastern Uganda, such as Karamoja and Sebei regions, where young girls are still being subjected to mutilation.