Amudat District has acquired the first counselling Centre to combat violence against women and girls in the area.

Built by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD) with support from partners including the United Nations Development Programme and Action Aid International Uganda, the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Shelter will provide temporary safe spaces to women and girls seeking refuge against violence.

UNDP Gender Advisor Beatrice Mugambe said the Spotlight Initiative support in Amudat district was motivated by the alarming surge in cases of female genital mutilation (FGM), domestic violence, teenage pregnancies, and child marriages throughout the country.

She expressed UNDP’s deep gratitude to all EU-UN Spotlight Initiative partners who contributed to the construction of the GBV shelter.

Christine Akumu, the MGLSD representative, emphasised the government’s commitment to establishing GBV shelters nationwide to act as comprehensive centres for victim rehabilitation and the provision of legal aid.

She added that, through innovative partnerships, Uganda has now established 14 GBV shelters across the country.

Luta Shaba, the coordinator of the Spotlight Initiative in Uganda, expressed enthusiasm for the launch of the GBV Shelter in Amudat district.

“This shelter aims to combat various forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices. Women and girls in Amudat district who previously didn’t have safe spaces when fleeing domestic violations do have a home now,” Shaba said.

Beyond offering sanctuary during times of distress, the GBV Shelter will serve as a hub for disseminating information on sexual and reproductive health and rights to community members, facilitating referrals for GBV survivors to seek essential services, and equipping them with life skills to enable them to strengthen their livelihoods after they leave the GBV Shelter.

This initiative also established the Terego GBV Reception Centre, which was launched in April 2022.

The Spotlight Initiative support in Amudat district has therefore been driven by the alarming surge in cases of female genital mutilation (FGM), domestic violence, teenage pregnancies, and child marriages throughout the country.

According to the statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, physical violence among women and girls aged 10–59 is highest in Amudat Town at 31%, and sexual violence among girls aged 10–59 is highest in Amudat Town at 12% in 2022.