Buganda County Chiefs Propose Discrimination of Sexual Violence Offenders

Buganda Kingdom county chiefs are discussing possibilities of open isolation and discrimination of offenders of sexual and gender-based violence, as a remedy to the unwanted social habits in the community. 

The 18 County Chiefs in Buganda and their deputies are attending their annual symposium at the Buddu County headquarters in Masaka City, to deliberate on strategies of strengthening the HIV prevention campaign as well as improving the social welfare of their communities. 

The Chiefs have noted with concern the rising incidents of gender-based violence offenses in the communities, that are shadowing the strides registered in fight against HIV.   

Doctor Phiona Nakalinda Kalinda, the Deputy County Chief for Kyaddondo has urged the assembly to endorse the idea of discriminating offenders of sexual offenses as deterrence to other would be culprits.  

She says while the kingdom has registered some tremendous success in reducing HIV infections, through emphasizing the Kabaka Ronald Mutebi's campaign messages that summons the men to take up central role in protecting the female gender, the communities are still struggling with a social burden of sexual and gender-based violence, which blight the welfare of the victims, who are largely women, girls and children. 

The problem is manifesting in form defilement, rape, teenage pregnancies and domestic violence that also have a bearing to the spread of HIV.  

She says it's high time the Kingdom invoked the traditional methods of openly denouncing sexual offenders and treating them as social misfits in society, which makes them isolated and uncomfortable, hence pushing them to reform their conducts. 

Traditionally in the Buganda culture, a person who committed offenses of grave criminal nature would be isolated, and accorded disrespectful titles or names that suit their unbecoming acts to dissuade others from committing similar evils. 

Dr Kalinda says that besides pursuing the modern approaches or prosecuting and sentencing of the offenders, the Kingdom should also consider revisiting and applying the traditional methods used to shape society morals.   

//Cue in: “eby’okusobya ku baana……     

Cue out....ekizubu kino.”//      

Jude Muleke, the Buddu County Chief also expressed the need for all traditional leaders to regularly denounce social evils such that communities can shun them. 

He suggests that HIV the prevention campaign messages be intertwined with efforts to end all forms of sexual and gender-based violence habits in community, to ensure that women and girls are protected.   

 //Cue in; “ensonga gyetugenda okuddukira….....    

    Cue out......nga nsonga nkulu.”//  

Ronald Mulondo, the Bulemezi County Chief; traditionally referred to as Kkangaawo, who is chairng the the symposium says they will take a unanimous decision about the matter and other social issues towards improving the lives of the people of Buganda.

Reports by Justice Law and Order Sectors-JLOS actors highlight a high number of sexual offenses and gender-based violence cases in districts within Buganda.    

   

For instance, the 11 districts of the Great Masaka sub region, which make up five counties of Buganda, register a daily average of at least three defilement cases according to the annual Police Crime Report of 2024. 

The consecutive reports point to a trend that has been on for years.