Overwhelming GBV cases prompt safe haven for survivors in Kasese

KASESE - Kasese district, ranked third nationally for gender-based violence (GBV) cases, has long grappled with a crisis disproportionately affecting women and children, often resulting in fatalities or severe injuries during hostile conflicts.

To address this, the Kasese district local government (KDLG), supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the EU Spotlight Initiative, has transformed the former LC5 chairperson's offices into a temporary GBV shelter to offer support to survivors.

District community development officer William Bwambale Mutanga emphasised the shelter’s role in preventing “havoc” stemming from GBV, such as suicide or trauma.

“Upon arrival, survivors receive psychosocial counselling for three to seven days,” he said during a July 16, 2025, site inspection. The facility, located in Rukoki Ward, needs shillings 220 million in rehabilitation costs and will be officially launched next week.

Queen Asiimwe, the district’s gender focal person, revealed that over 100 GBV cases are reported monthly, though underreporting likely masks the true scale.

“Last month alone, one woman was killed, and another lost both hands in a machete attack by her husband,” she said.

Deputy chief administrative officer Eliab Ntarwete Begumisa attributed the GBV surge to poverty, drug abuse and polygamy. He stressed the need for a dedicated budget to ensure the shelter’s sustainability, “This initiative must be institutionalised to protect vulnerable populations long-term”.

The shelter aligns with national efforts, including Uganda’s network of 23 GBV safety shelters, which provide survivors with legal aid, counselling, and medical care.

With Kasese reporting a 34% GBV prevalence against women and girls, this facility is a good step toward safeguarding lives and fostering resilience in a region where systemic issues fuel violence.