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In Uganda, International Justice Mission head urges Christians to protect women and children against abuse

Mukono, Uganda

Christians have a role to play in ensuring that women and children are protected against abuse such as rape and sexual abuse, according to Wamaitha Kimani, director of the International Justice Mission’s in Uganda.

Delivering a sermon at Uganda Christian University‘s ThornyCroft Chapel on Sunday, Kimani urged congregants not to be bystanders as violence against women and children happens in their communities. 

“When you are in a crowd, it diffuses responsibility,” she said. “It also diffuses blame. Sometimes you look around and think maybe, I am understanding the situation differently or maybe the person is not in trouble. So, you step back and don’t do anything. With the bystander effect, the more people witness an emergence, the less likely they will act.”

Uganda Freedom Sunday at UCU

International Justice Mission Uganda Country Director Wamaitha Kimani (centre) chats with Uganda Christian University Vice Chancellor, Prof Aaron Mushengyezi (left) and his predecessor Canon Dr John Senyonyi. PICTURE: Courtesy of IJM

But Kimani added that there is a way to change that narrative.

“It is when one person does something, and then anyone else will try to do something. The crowd will not do anything, but one person does something. Justice is not done in mobs. It is done by an individual.”

She cited a 15th August judgment at Kabale High Court in Western Uganda where a 68-year-old grandfather from Kisoro District was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing his granddaughter.

“Amidst intimidation from family members to have the case swept under the carpet, the father of the victim stood his ground and sought justice for his daughter,” she said. “The victim’s father was the son of the perpetrator. In what turned out to be a ripple effect, the Uganda Police last week announced a related case from the same region, in which a prominent politician is facing charges of defilement.” 



Quoting Micah 6:1–8 and James 1:22–27, Kimani emphasised that “God’s Word tells us that we are doers of his word, not just hearers”.

“When you think of the crimes statistics that we have, it tells you that violence and injustice against women and children in communities exist very close to us. So, you would wonder how come no-one is doing anything about it.”

“I know sometimes we think why do we bother? We cannot succeed. Everywhere you look, you see injustice. And you’re asking yourself if you act on one, what about the next one? And who am I to resolve them? Other people can see those problems. Am I the world’s caretaker? But God’s heart is justice…We are not bystanders. We have been called to act …to seek justice.”


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The 2016 Uganda demographic health survey shows that 51 per cent of women aged 15 to 49-years-old have experienced physical violence and more than one in five (22 per cent) of women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. The survey also showed almost 10 per cent of girls aged 15 to 19 and close to 20 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 reported experiencing sexual assault, with more than half of these women experiencing it in the year preceding the survey.

In a bid to raise awareness of the issue, Christian organisation IJM holds a campaign, dubbed Freedom Sunday, once a year, in which it urges churches to use their voice and stand up against all forms of abuse. This year, the UCU Chapel celebration of Freedom Sunday coincided with the 60th anniversary of Uganda’s independence.

The correspondent, John Semakula, is an independent journalist and a lecturer at Uganda Christian University.

 

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