rESEARCH CONSULTANCY
CHAPTER SIX
RECOMMENADTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
6.0 Introduction
The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has globally changed lifestyles, disrupted many old patterns of life, new rules of life had to developed to cope with the challenges posed by COVID-19 this therefore means that new approach needs to embraced in the fight against domestic violence. This chapter therefore offers insights that can be taken by the various bodies responsible to implement the challenge of domestic violence
6.1 Recommendations to address the domestic violence challenges
There is need to raise awareness about the criminal nature of domestic Violence, This can be carried out in form of seminars, workshops in which the citizens are taught about unacceptable form of behaviours, development of programs for prevention of violence, the family support in violence prevention.[1] It has been observed that the domestic violence cases are higher in rural areas mainly because of lack of information hence there is need to raise awareness about domestic violence.
This study observes that the nature of the punishments needs to made more severe, under domestic violence Act provides the punishment for domestic violence as a fine not exceeding Ugandan shillings 960000 or imprisonment for two years or both[2]. This paper observes that the above punishments are maximum punishments meaning that the higher chances that perpetrators could even get lenient sentences which would be unfair given the gravity of the cases they commit thus this paper recommends for a more harsh punishments so as to deter the possible perpetrators of domestic violence.
There should be training of probation officers that should be trained in every village with skills of guidance and counselling as to be able to disseminate and help the victims of domestic violence. The victims or survivors of domestic violence require emotional, psychological financial supports to enable them cope up with their emotional turmoil.[3]
The ministry of ethics and integrity should introduce monthly counselling sessions at all places of worship such as churches or mosques, this would make the government to support the religious to address the dangers of domestic violence.
The ministry of gender needs to put free toll lines to be used by the victims of domestic violence to use report the cases of domestic violence, and to seek for help such as guidance and counselling. This would bridge the gap between the relevant authorities and the victims of domestic violence.
The Uganda police force department of probation needs to be trained and equipped with skills of managing the victims of domestic violence. The victims of domestic violence need psychological, emotional support and the perpetrators need rehabilitation more than deterrent punishments. [4] The police officers have a duty under the Act to investigate, assist the victim or advice in obtaining shelter, advise the victim of the right to apply for relief under the Act,
Cultural heads such as chiefs and elders need to be involved in the fight against domestic violence; the patriarchy settings in Africa were men are considered very powerful in a family at the expense of the women is one of the major causes of domestic violence. The policy makers need to engage the cultural chiefs and elders because as many cultural practices promote gender based violence such as domestic violence, as observed by Jutice Twinomujuni in MIFUMI and 12 others Vs AG and Kenneth Kakuru that bride price helps to perpetuate a belief in society that a man is superior to a woman, that once he pays he can batter her, humiliate her and treat her as he likes[5].
The government should increase the budget of ministry of gender so as to facilitate the training and skilling of relevant officials with the skills such counselling given to the victims of domestic violence and for the ministry to organise seminars, sensitization programs across traditional and social media
More research needs to done on other ways of containing the spread of the pandemics other than imposing lockdown. Institution of lockdown is important to contain the spread of pandemics, but they have serious psychological, social and economic disruptions that it causes[6]. More research needs to be carried to find alternative ways of containing the spread of pandemics.
Capital and economic recovery packages must be made available to women and men who have lost their jobs and incomes due to the institution of lockdown, and similarly development of humanitarian actors should consider creating capital funds to help people whose livelihood was disrupted by institution of a lockdown.[7]
6.2 Conclusion
This study observes that incidence of violence and discrimination among Ugandan residents during the COVID-19 lockdown was high and mostly perpetrated by male adults to the female gender due to the strict lockdown measures. Males, individuals who had attended to work physically for more than 3 days in the past week and those who had difficulties accessing social or essential health services were more likely to experience violence and discrimination.
This study further observes that institution of lockdowns may be a necessary intervention to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in some situations as the attention is often focused on controlling the epidemic, but they have serious psychological and social disruptive consequences thus this study recommends that it is important to mitigate the collateral impact of lockdowns where possible with interventions that focus on improving policing quality too, meanwhile the study encourages need for more research so as to explore alternative models of ensuring compliance to prevention measures in epidemics including models of risk communication and community mobilization.
[1] CARE, International in Uganda, COVID-19 Rapid Gender Analysis. Omugo settlement, Palabek settlement, page 15
[2] Section 4(2) of Domestic Violence Act
[3] D.K.Kaye332, Domestic violence as a risk factor for unwanted pregnancy in Mulagu hospital, Kampala Uganda
[4] Daily Monitor, Tuesday May 5th, page 22
[5] MIFUMI Limited and 12 others Vs Attorney General and Kenneth Kakuru, Constitutional Petition Number 12 of 2007
[6] ELIZABETH Katana, Violence and discrimination among Ugandan residents during the COVID-19 lockdown, page 12
[7] CARE, International in Uganda, COVID-19 Rapid Gender Analysis. Omugo settlement, Palabek settlement, page 16
