Our Mandate

To strengthen coordination and networking of LASPs, harmonisation and standardisation of legal aid service provision by the different service providers, lobbying and advocacy to facilitate a favourable legal and policy environment.

FUN FEST AND COLOUR AT THE GBV AWARENESS DAY IN BUIKWE

LASPNET with support from European Union convened the launch of the GBV Annual Awareness Day in Buikwe district at Mehta grounds in Lugazi on 19th May 2022.

The awareness day was part of the interventions under the EU supported two-year (2020-2022) project titled “Empowering formal and informal justice systems to respond and handle Gender-based Violence (GBV) in the districts of Mukono, Kayunga and Buikwe”

Above, the Chief guest Hon Justice David Batema (seated 5th from right), Dr. Sylvia Namubiru Mukasa (seated 3rd from right) pose for a group photo with the district leadership during the launch of the GBV annual awareness day in Buikwe district on 19th May 2022 at Mehta Grounds, Lugazi.

The activity was aimed at strengthening GBV response and prevention as well as increasing awareness about GBV in the district. The Annual day celebrated under the project campaign slogan “Let us join hands to fight GBV among women and children” literally translated as “Tukwatire wamu okumalawo okabasanya abakyala na’baana” attracted a total of 340 participants in attendance (188 males, 152 females including children) who included project partners like UGANET, Action Against Violence (AAV), Justice Centres Uganda, Uganda Christian Lawyers’ Fraternity (UCLF) and Islamic Women Initiative For Justice, Peace and Law (IWILAP), JLOS officials, paralegals and GBV Community Watch Committees (CWCs) and GBV district partners such as World Vision and Loham Children Ministries as well as district leadership of Buikwe.  

The launch which was flagged off by the LASPNET Board Chairperson, Mr. Arthur Nsereko in the presence of key stakeholders at the district level, GBV partners, LASPs, CWCs, community members, school children, LASPNET CEO Dr Sylvia Namubiru Mukasa and staff involved a series of pre activities aimed at raising GBV awareness in Buikwe district. These among others included the airing of radio DJ mentions and jingles on Dunamis FM and the movement of a mobile caravan prior to the event launch calling upon the community to speak out on the GBV acts so that survivors are supported.

At the D-day, the event commenced with a fitness crusade where the kick boxing champion, Mr Goloola Moses entertained and also sensitized the community about GBV including school children from Lugazi East Primary School and Loham Christian School. This was spiced up with matching in the district municipality led by a brass band which played captivating GBV songs coupled with skaters and bikers who disseminated flyers and posters with GBV awareness messages to the community members. This colourful procession excited revellers standing along Jinja road and many of the bystanders joined and marched from Lugazi town to Mehta grounds where the event was to be held. The activities were crowned off with a community dialogue with local leaders, community members, justice actors and media.

In their remarks, several district leaders including officials from the office of the Resident District Commissioner, Chief Administrative Office, Lugazi Municipality and GBV district partners including World Vision and Loham Children Ministries acknowledged the need to eliminate GBV in Buikwe district through continued awareness-raising. In unison, they appreciated LASPNET and the various stakeholders for the strides taken toward GBV response and prevention in Buikwe district.

Specifically, in her introductory remarks, Dr Sylvia Namubiru Mukasa, CEO LASPNET, gave a background and justification for bringing the project which was mainly informed by the high prevalence of GBV during the covid 19 pandemic in Buikwe, Mukono and Kayunga districts according to the Police Report of 2020. She informed guests that LASPENT had conducted a baseline study in the three districts in February 2021 and confirmed the findings of the Police Crime Report hence the commencement of the project. In addition, her remarks alluded to the key milestones done under the project including the training of the community watch committee members; the distribution of 60 bicycles; the GBV Community outreaches and the extension of legal support to GBV survivors through LASPs in the project districts all aimed at GBV response and prevention. She ended by appreciating the support of the development partner EU and stakeholders like the Buikwe district leadership, GBV Partners, CWCs, and the LASPs implementing the project including UGANET, AAV, IWILAP, JCU and UCLF.

Among the speakers of the day included Mr Christopher Kyobe, the chairperson of Buikwe NGO network who decried the lack of respect for women and children. He informed the guests that in countries like the United States, children and women are respected and well protected by the law hence the low incidences of GBV. Hon. Stephen Kinaalwa the Member of Parliament for Lugazi Municipality called for constant training and sensitization of the communities in Lugazi and committed to funding the trainings if necessary.

The Chief Guest and keynote speaker Hon. Justice David Batema recognized the fact that men are also victims of gender-based violence but emphasized that hat women and children make up the vast majority of victims. Justifying the need for a mindset change to fight and eradicate GBV, Justice Batema informed the participants that in many families, girls and women have proved to be more responsible than their male counterparts. He made a clarion call to all religious and cultural leaders to be drivers of this mindset change and to engage the police on matters of criminal nature which they have previously settled contrary to the law.

Justice Batema condemned cultural practices that belittle and exclude women from inheriting family estates especially during succession. He was quoted saying;

“These days girls and women have proven to be more responsible than men that is why even the former Prime Minister the late Apollo Nsibambi and a former tycoon the late Mulwana left management of their estates to their daughters in disregard of the known cultural practices and beliefs that its only boys or men who can inherit and manage estates of the deceased”

 In his concluding remarks Justice David Batema explained to the participants the effects of gender-based violence noting that if the vice is not addressed, GBV is a key cause of death, bodily disfigurement and mental illnesses adding the various forms of GBV to include psychological, sexual, physical and economic violence and cautioned men against perpetrating acts of GBV against women and children.

The function was crowned off with, Justice Batema launching the project magazine titled, “Joining Hands to Fight GBV: Community Change Stories” and inspection of stalls for LASPs and GBV partners. 

The launch in Buikwe therefore not only helped re-emphasize the state of GBV in the district, but highlighted the plight of GBV survivors, raised community awareness on GBV through various platforms such as the justice system actors and media, mobilised the public to shun GBV and its causes, created public awareness about the project interventions and milestones and empowered the public to continue reporting incidences of GBV to mandated institutions and LASPNET.

THE EVENT IN PICTURES

Compiled by: Ms Maria Kaddu

Strategic partners

:

Join our mails list

To receive our latest news and updates.



Contact Us

  • Plot 10, Block 75 Balintuma Road, Mengo.
    P.O. Box 8488, Kampala-Uganda
  • Tel: +256(0)393513733 
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.