Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project and the North Kigezi Diocese have formed a partnership to address sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Rukungiri District, Uganda. The collaboration was announced during a meeting in Rukungiri Municipality, attended by Nyaka officials, clergy from the North Kigezi Diocese, police officers, Child Development Centre (CDE) representatives, and district leaders, including probation officers. Nyaka, a community-based NGO operating in rural southwestern Uganda, focuses on education, healthcare, and support for orphaned and vulnerable children and their caregivers. The initiative aims to enhance prevention and response mechanisms for SGBV through community engagement and policy advocacy.
Nyaka’s SGBV Coordinator, Bylon Natuha, highlighted that the organization documented 105 defilement cases over four months, warning that the actual number could be higher due to underreporting. He emphasized the role of religious leaders in disseminating child protection information and encouraging abuse reporting. Rev. Muntrive Nshabaruhanga, North Kigezi Diocesan Secretary, attributed some child abuse cases to inadequate parental care, noting that children often face vulnerability when left unsupervised, particularly when mothers migrate for work or fathers struggle with alcohol abuse. He urged church leaders to leverage their platforms to educate parents and children on child protection.
North Kigezi Diocesan Household and Community Transformation Coordinator Nathan Alex Mugabe, a former Kebisoni Town Council mayor, stated the church supports children through education, healthcare, and welfare programs. He revealed the diocese operates 12 CDE branches and called for stronger child protection policies, improved staff vetting, and regular safeguarding training. Mugabe also requested Nyaka to involve chapel and school heads in future workshops to bolster child protection within schools and religious institutions. Rukungiri District Senior Probation Officer Jennifer Tumusiimire reported over 1,800 annual teenage pregnancy cases, primarily from sub-counties like Bwambara and Nyakagyeme, involving girls under 17. She urged church leaders to use their influence to promote child safety and parental accountability.
Rev. Evas Arinaitwe, North Kigezi Diocesan Education Coordinator, linked many teenage pregnancies to school holidays, urging parents to maintain close communication with children to shield them from peer pressure and risky environments. The Dean of Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano, Very Rev. Dickens Baguma, and Rev. Canon George Bazahuza noted that some parents treat children as subordinates, hindering open dialogue about their challenges. They encouraged parents to foster safe, communicative relationships with their children. The partnership is expected to strengthen community awareness, reporting, and response systems for SGBV, aligning religious and civic efforts to protect vulnerable populations.