Exploring the effects of Domestic Violence on the Development of Nyendo Ssenyange Masaka District, Uganda

Setimba Twayibu

School of Law, Kampala International University, Uganda

ABSTRACT

The study explores the effects of domestic violence on the development of Nyendo                Ssenyange Masaka District of Uganda. Women in Uganda have been prejudiced by the lack of legislation to protect them against domestic violence. Although criminal sanctions under the Ugandan Penal Code are sometimes imposed against perpetrators of domestic violence (including cautions, fines, and prison sentences), they are so lenient that, rather than deter further acts of domestic violence, they provoke them. In some instances, women who have even been slightly successful in obtaining redress have paid with their lives. This is a perverse situation which is set to continue. It is in this light that this study calls for law reform that deals specifically with domestic violence. Domestic violence legislation must be enacted because the existing criminal law does not provide adequate legal remedies and punishments are often very lenient, with the accused simply being warned or fined, which is a mockery of justice. The reformed law should provide victims of domestic violence with adequate remedies and reference should be made to other jurisdictions which have come up with a Domestic Violence Act, such as Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa to mention a few. Also, there is a need for the government of Uganda to comply with its international obligation to protect women including women refugees against all forms of violence, whether occurring in the private or public sphere, and to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of government agencies to address domestic violence, and to develop a model for intervention on a nationwide scale.

Keywords: Domestic violence, Government agencies, Government policies, international obligations, Ugandan laws

CITE AS: Setimba Twayibu (2024). Exploring the effects of Domestic Violence on the Development of Nyendo Ssenyange Masaka District, Uganda. RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF CURRENT ISSUES IN ARTS AND MANAGEMENT 3(3):36-42.