Rwenzururu Kingdom officials with support from International Justice Mission today gathered at Rwenzori International Hotel in Kasese town to forge ways of how to eliminate Violence Against Women and Children, a vice that retards family development.
During the period characteristic byCovid-19 pandemic, Kasese district was ranked number three across the country with the highest number of Gender Based Violence cases including teenage pregnancies, defilement and child marriages.
The situation in Kasese prompted International Justice Mission to come on ground and train local council leaders, police officers, medical and health practitioners, cultural, religious, community leaders and legal aid organizations as the first responders in Gender Based Violence referral pathways.
Addressing the Rwenzururu officials, the Kingdom’s Minister of Gender and Disability Affairs, Hon. Juliet Best Bakoko reported that the Cultural Institution was battling with many cases of incest, a vice she said is against the cultural norms.
Hon. Bakoko, who also doubles as the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, explained that Her Royal Highness Agnes Ithungu Asimawehad already made a pronouncement about the vice, asking the family heads to support the cultural institution in the fight against the vice.
The ongoing training session would be closed tomorrow with the official handover of the Policy Guidelines on Gender and Family Relations which have been translated in Lhukonzo Language.
ENDS