Gender Based Violence (GBV) takes multiple forms, including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, with harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, early or forced marriages, dowry-related violence, and economic abuse. The 2024 Annual Crime Report revealed that over 75 percent of domestic violence victims were women and girls, with all 1667 recorded rape victims in 2024 being women who also accounted for 98 percent of defilement cases. The Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) 2022 indicated physical violence against women at 23 percent.
The country’s persistent struggle with GBV threatens its ability to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 5.2.1, which seeks to eliminate violence against women and girls. This policy brief delves into the factors hindering survivors from seeking justice such as deep-rooted societal norms, financial constraints, and judicial inefficiencies. Some of the recommendations for the Government to consider include targeted public awareness campaigns, enhancing the efficiency of family and criminal courts to expedite GBV cases, and providing enhanced support services through public-private partnerships, especially for women with limited financial resources.

https://eprcug.org/publication/addressing-systemic-barriers-to-gbv-justice-in-uganda/