Alarming UNFPA Report Shows 69% of Women in Karamoja Face Spousal Violence

A staggering 69.2 percent of women in Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region have faced spousal violence in their lifetime, according to findings from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Austrian Embassy. The report further highlights that at least four in ten girls in the same region marry before reaching the age of 18.

The sobering statistics were disclosed during the launch of a new bilateral partnership at JLOS House in Naguru, Kampala. Following Karamoja, the Acholi sub-region recorded the second-highest rate at 61.3 percent, while Lango stood at 48.6 percent. Compounding the crisis in Karamoja, only 28 percent of local health facilities currently provide comprehensive clinical management for rape survivors.

To combat these challenges, the Austrian government has committed €3.2 million (approximately Shs15.45 billion) toward a 30-month initiative named the Sexual and Reproductive Health, Access to Justice, Freedom, Equality and Rights (SAFER) project. Running from September 2026 to February 2029, the project aims to reach roughly 830,000 people across Karamoja, Acholi, and Lango, integrating medical care, legal access, and psychosocial support.

Dr. Katja Kerschbaumer, head of the Austrian Embassy in Kampala, emphasized that gender-based violence extends far beyond physical attacks to encompass economic, psychological, emotional, cultural, and technology-facilitated abuse. She noted that economic sabotage and child marriage systematically deny women independence and educational opportunities.

UNFPA Country Representative Kristine Blokhus pointed out that previous interventions helped increase court-disposed sexual offense cases and bolstered formal case reporting. Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary Robert Kasande reaffirmed the government’s dedication to improving institutional coordination and ensuring justice translates into real-world protection.

For more details on this initiative, read the original report on the Daily Monitor.