Monday, February 7th, 2022 | By
National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) is implementing a two year project in three districts of Hoima, Buliisa and Kikuube districts aimed at ending human rights abuses and gender based violence.
The project is titled Deepening grassroots women rights, participation and economic livelihood opportunities in the era of expanding oil and gas extraction and the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda is implemented with support from European Union (EU).
During the project launch in the project districts in January, Allan Kalangi, the NAPE’s sustainability School Manager said it is estimated that 35% of women and girls experience violence worldwide and it is the responsibility of every individual to end gender based violence which mainly affects women, girls and children.
He said oil activities and the wave of COVID-19 pandemic have compounded the situation and have led to loss of lives, placing an additional burden on women and girls.
Kalangi said NAPE with support from European Union will work with communities and local leaders to end violence against women and girls and human rights abuses through sensitization, trainings and mediation.
Ms. Sylvia Kemigisa, the chairperson of Kaiso Women’s Group in Kabaale Sub County in Hoima district said the project is timely since women and girls are faced with violence resulting from COVID-19 and floods which have led to loss of lives.
“When floods started evicting residents, women and children suffered most. Men ran away and left their women in flooded houses struggling with where to relocate to and this in addition to lack of land and lost livelihood left women suffering. Our young girls have also become vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies, early marriages and teenage pregnancies due to COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ms. Kemigisa.
Rev. Fed Musiimenta, the Chairperson of Butimba Sustainability Conservation Association (BUSUCA) in Butimba district in Hoima district said development of oil projects have caused tension and violence among the affected people.
“The violence and human rights abuses can only end when both men and women work together to end them. I appreciate NAPE for coming with this initiative,” Fred Musiimenta said
Alice Kazimura, the Executive Director of Kakindo Women Integrated Development Association (KAWIDA) in Buliisa said land and property compensation and COVID-19 have increased violence and abuses and welcomed the program.
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