As Katakwi District commemorates the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, statistics indicate a worrying rise in cases of gender-based violence (GBV), with over 2,500 incidents registered across 20 sub-counties. The figure exceeds those of previous years, when the district recorded about 2,000 cases handled by the police, probation office, shelters, and health facilities. Betty Angiro, the Senior District Probation Officer for Katakwi, said that from January to December 2024, the district registered more than 2,000 GBV cases, while between January and September 2025, over 2,500 cases were documented. These included physical, economic, digital, and psychological abuse.
Angiro urged residents—particularly men—to report unreported cases so that justice can prevail and families can effectively combat GBV.
Grace Asengo, Senior Community Development Officer for Usuk Town Council, acknowledged that GBV disproportionately affects women and girls, noting that 35 cases were registered in November alone.She attributed part of the increase to the misuse of technology, especially mobile phones, which she said are increasingly being used to facilitate violence.
Meanwhile, Stephen Ilemukorit Okure, the Resident District Commissioner for Katakwi, called on men to desist from fighting and excessive alcohol consumption. He also emphasized the need for harmony within families as a way of addressing gender-based violence.
She explained that in 2024, total deliveries among girls aged 15–19 years stood at 1,572, while 1,179 deliveries were recorded in the same age group in 2025. Health records further show that 581 cases of GBV-related injuries were reported in 2024, compared to 500 cases in 2025. Additionally, 615 GBV cases were recorded in 2024, while 564 cases were registered in 2025.
Angiro added that 29 cases of sexually transmitted infections resulting from sexual gender-based violence were documented in 2024, rising sharply to 55 cases in 2025. Alarmingly, deliveries among children under 15 years increased from three cases in 2024 to 13 cases in 2025.
The 16 Days of Activism 2025 is a global campaign running from 25 November to 10 December, aimed at ending gender-based violence. This year’s focus is on ending digital violence and creating safe spaces, with UN Women and partners highlighting online harassment and image-based abuse, while calling for greater accountability to ensure the safety of women and girls both online and offline. The campaign uses the colour orange as a symbol of hope for a violence-free future.
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