KAMPALA– The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, held a consultative engagement with Dr. Patrick Nalere, a consultant for UN Women, as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to develop a new Strategic Note, its upcoming multi-year development framework.
The discussion focused on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the broader justice-related challenges facing women and girls in Uganda, with insights drawn from the Judiciary’s experience. Justice Dr. Zeija emphasized that deep-rooted cultural norms, the breakdown of family structures, and institutional weaknesses remain some of the major drivers of GBV.
He pointed to persistent harmful beliefs, such as the misconception that girls must be coerced into sex or that physical violence within marriage is a sign of affection, as deeply embedded societal issues. He also highlighted how weakened parental oversight, particularly among youth aged 18 to 30, coupled with drug abuse, has fueled abusive behaviors.
He further observed that during the COVID-19 lockdowns, an alarming number of GBV cases involved relatives of the victims, and that a disturbing rise in same-sex abuse, particularly sodomy, is now being reported. Many of these cases, he noted, never reach the courts due to early compromises at the community or police level, poor investigations, and lack of resources to support full prosecution. Even when cases do proceed to court, delays are common, caused by logistical challenges such as inadequate transport to remote locations, underfunding of criminal sessions, and a shortage of judicial officers.
Justice Zeija stressed that many survivors of GBV, especially in rural areas, either lack awareness of their rights or have been socialized to accept violence as normal. He expressed concern over the and lack of resources to support full prosecution. Even when cases do proceed to court, delays are common, caused by logistical challenges such as inadequate transport to remote locations, underfunding of criminal sessions, and a shortage of judicial officers.
Justice Zeija stressed that many survivors of GBV, especially in rural areas, either lack awareness of their rights or have been socialized to accept violence as normal. He expressed concern over the widespread practice of informal settlements, in which parents and local leaders accept bribes, often in the form of livestock or cash, instead of pursuing formal justice.
He emphasized the urgent need to increase support for marginalized populations, particularly rural women, women with disabilities, and survivors of GBV.
The Deputy Chief Justice underscored the value of working with UN Women to enhance training for frontline justice actors, particularly Local Council leaders (LCs), who are often the first point of contact for victims. However, he pointed out that the Judiciary lacks adequate funding to train LCs consistently. He also called for UN Women’s support in scaling up special GBV courts beyond the few districts currently covered.
He expressed concern that most NGOs focus their operations in urban areas, leaving rural communities underserved. He called for a shift in strategy, with more attention given to community-based sensitization and long-term engagement rather than one-off or donor-driven interventions.
While he acknowledged that radio can be a useful medium for sensitization, he noted that it must be complemented by sustained on-the-ground mobilization to have real impact.
Justice Zeija emphasized the importance of reliable data for reform, stating that the lack of consistent reporting on GBV cases severely limits evidence-based policymaking. Despite efforts to work with the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), he noted that many judicial officers fail to report relevant case data, leaving gaps in the national picture.
He also highlighted the lack of proper support systems for vulnerable witnesses, especially children and survivors who are often forced to return to abusive environments. He noted that witness intimidation—by relatives, community members, or even family—is a growing concern.
Moreover, he pointed to gaps in the way NGOs conduct training, remarking that many programs are too narrowly focused, for example on disability, and fail to integrate gender justice elements or address the complexity of multiple vulnerabilities.
