Population size:
2019 - 44,269,594 [1]
Number of people experiencing domestic abuse each year:
Proportion of ever-partnered women aged 15-49 years experiencing intimate partner physical and/or sexual violence in the last 12 months: 30% [2]
In 2014, a total of 3,006 cases of domestic violence were investigated compared to 3,426 cases in 2013 giving a decrease of 12.2% [3]
No research on male victims or other gender identities.
Cost of domestic abuse to the economy each year:
Estimate of the annual economic burden of domestic violence in Uganda = UGX 77.5 billion. This represents 0.25% of GDP in 2011. A recent study used well tested interpolation and statistical technics to monetize the cost of the response to Domestic Violence (DOMESTIC VIOLENCE) in Uganda: it estimated that health care providers spend about UGX 18.3 billion annually to deal with the effects of GBV, police UGX 19.5 billion while the local councils spend UGX 12.7 billion. This does not account for the loss of productivity or other longer-term impacts of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. (Uganda Case Study 2012-2017) (5). Total cost of service providers addressing = UGX 21.9 billion. About 9% of violent incidents forced women to lose time from paid work (approximately 11 days a year/half a month’s salary) [4]
Estimated % change due to COVID-19:
March 30 - April 28: 3,280 GBV cases reported to police. [5]
The Uganda police force, has recorded more than 3000 cases of domestic violence with 6 deaths in a space of one month of the lockdown. [6]
Current law and policy:
Uganda has demonstrated their commitment in combatting against Domestic Violence through the introduction of the Domestic Violence Act (2010).
New laws protecting women from gender-based violence have been introduced over the past ten years. The Domestic Violence Act (2010) provides a comprehensive definition of domestic violence that includes physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, psychological and economic violence as well as harassment. In addition, the bill provides protection orders for abused women, which had not previously existed in Ugandan law. Rape is a criminal offence in Uganda under the Penal Code, which also prescribes the death penalty for those convicted of rape. Spousal rape is not addressed in the Penal Code. [7]
Uganda has not submitted a report to the CEDAW Committee regarding the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, since 2010. Uganda has not Signed or Ratified the Optional Protocol to the CEDAW (2002)
Dealing with gender inequalities in the economy and family; improving the health of women and girls; and encouraging bills by private Members to tackle sexual offences and amend discriminatory legislation: these were some of the priorities identified during a seminar on Uganda’s implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The focus of the seminar—organized by the Parliament of Uganda and the IPU and held from 14 to 15 June—was parliament’s role i