By P’Odong Nyingalango.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated two motorcycles to Uganda Police Force in Aswa River Region to boost the follow- up of cases of sexual based violence in the area.
Francis Engwau, UNFPA’s program Specialist in Gulu handed over the two motorcycles yesterday at Gulu Central police.
“UNFPA) has given out 10 motorcycles– two each for Gulu, Lira, Mbarara, Masaka and Moroto– areas where there is Sexual Gender Based Violence shelters to boost follow up of cases which has been a challenge to for the Uganda police,’’ said Engwau.
Sexual Violence Shelters are meant to provide safe accommodate for survivors of SGBV as police follows up on their case.
“UNFPA works closely with Uganda Police in terms of supporting families and survivors of Sexual Gender Based Violence in five districts where there are SGBV shelters,” said Egwau.
The UN official attributed the persistent cases of gender based violence in northern Uganda to poverty.
In 2015 according to a joint report by police, UNFPA and Gulu, the district reported 3,780 cases of sexual gender based violence. In the same year, 737 young girls under the age of 14 were been defiled, 740 young girls were forced into early marriage, and 1,325 women were physically abused while 76 women were raped.
The officer incharge of Gulu Central Police Station, Edwin Antukunda who received the motorcycles on behalf of the District Police Commander appreciated UNFPA for supporting Aswa River region police.
Antukunda said sexual based gender based violence still remains a challenge with cases reported to the police daily. He said the motorcyles will ease police’s work in following up on cases.
The officer incharge of Child and family protection Unit, Alfred Ocakacon said they receive up to 30 cases of gender based violence daily.
On women day celebration at Pece Stadium, the Vice Chairperson Gulu District, Isaac Newton Ojok said the district has come up with an ordinance on domestic violence and the attorney general has accepted the ordinance to be used as a bylaw by the district to reduces of cases of gender and sexual violence.
