Rape is "non-consensual" sexual intercourse and victims span men, boys, women and girls across various contexts. Despite widespread condemnation, media as well as the general public universally have continued to consciously or subconsciously sexualize it.
This piece is written as the world prepares for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (November 25–December 10, 2019), with the theme "Ending GBV in the World of Work."
The Statistics
Uganda Police Force data shows a 4% increase in gender-based violence cases (38,651 to 40,258) between 2015–2016. The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2016 revealed 22% of women aged 15–49 experienced sexual violence, with 13% experiencing it annually—over 1 million women.
Stalled Legislation
Critical legislation remains stalled: the Marriage and Divorce Bill 2009 (halted due to marital rape provisions) and the Sexual Offences Bill 2019 (facing demonization). Parliamentary debates on rape criminalization have been fraught with controversy.
The author concludes by urging Ugandans to confront this epidemic head-on, recognizing that existing legislation—including the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007 and Domestic Violence Act 2010—must be properly enforced while new protections are enacted.
