Domestic violence in Uganda

Domestic violence in Uganda is a problem as it is in many parts of Africa. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

There is a deep cultural belief in Uganda that it is socially acceptable to hit a woman to discipline her. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]}

Wife beating costs the Ugandan economy billions of shillings per year. ^{[14] [15] [16] [17]}

Prevalence.

From the 2016-2022, national report, about 56% of the Ugandan women aged between 15 and 49 years have experienced physical violence, while 22% have faced sexual violence. ^[18] In 2016, 22.3% physical violence cases, 16.6% sexual cases were reported (UNIPH, UNFPA Uganda). Bukedi sub-region registered the highest percentage of physical violence with 32.6% and sexual violence with 37.1% whereas Ankole registered the highest percentage in emotional violence with 48.6% (UDHS 2016, UBOS). The year of 2020 likely saw about 29% increase in domestic violence cases with 17,664 cases reported, up rom 13,693 in 2019 ^[19] . In 2021, 272,737 Gender-based violence cases were reported (police, 2016-2021 total). ^[19]

The 2023 Uganda Police annual crime report recorded 14, 846 cases of sex-related violence of these 10,792 victims were female adults compared to 3,243 male adults, 10,741 child related offences reflecting both the persistence of Gender-Based Violence and it's devastating reach. ^[18] The report also notes that 249 people were killed as a result of domestic violence (113 females adults and 95 male adults). According to the Forum of Women in Democracy, approximately 33% of households in Uganda are experiencing GBV. Another Natural survey by UN Women reports that 56% of the married women between ages of 15 and 30 have suffered violence in the hands of their partners.

Despite the high report volumes recorded, only 1,520 cases reached the courts resulting into just 423 convictions.

See also

• Women in Uganda

References

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2. "DFID - Case Studies - Saying "No" to domestic violence in Uganda". Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
3. "African women and domestic violence". openDemocracy. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
4. "Domestic Violence and Poverty in Africa: When the Husband's Beating Stick is Like Butter". AfricaCan End Poverty. Retrieved 19 April 2016.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
5. "RESPONSES TO INFORMATION REQUESTS (RIRs)" (PDF). Justice.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
6. "Domestic violence in rural Uganda: evidence from a community-based study" (PDF). Who.int. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
7. "Uganda: Women Judges Voice Concern over Domestic Violence | Global Legal Monitor". Loc.gov. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
8. Abramsky, Tanya (29 August 2014). "'Beating your wife is a sign of love' - changing norms to end domestic abuse". The Guardian .
9. "Are Women provocative". Independent . Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-24.
10. "Ugandan domestic violence bill stalls". The Guardian . Retrieved 2014-03-24.
11. "Domestic violence cases soar". New Vision . Retrieved 2014-03-24.
12. "Uganda tackles wife-beating taboo". BBC . Retrieved 2014-03-24.
13. "Title: Educational Attainment and Domestic Violence in Uganda". Paa2013.princeton.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-27. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
14. "Uganda Loses Sh77bn To Domestic Violence Cases". Newvision.co.ug. 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
15. "Domestic Violence Affecting Quality Of Uganda's Population". Newvision.co.ug. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
16. "Florida State University Libraries" (PDF). Fsu.digital.flvx.org. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
17. "Making the law count" (PDF). Acordinternational.org. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
18. Admin (2025-12-12). "Blogs: Gender-Based Violence in Uganda: A deepening crisis demanding action". New Vision. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
19. "AD593: Majority of Ugandans see domestic violence as a private – not criminal – matter". www.afrobarometer.org. Retrieved 2025-12-18.