Where men are kings and women, mere vessels

A young woman with a weary look sits at the doorstep of a crumbling manyatta in Lolochat.

Her exhaustion typifies the misery faced by thousands of women in Karamoja sub-region where the tradition does not give them an opportunity to be heard.

“Life is hard for us here as women. Whereas men find solace on their stools, women are expected to go to the gardens to look for food, if the huts (manyattas) leak, we are expected to repair besides building them but amidst all this you are not supposed to attend clan/village meetings and are not expected to divorce even when your husband does not want you anymore. In this tradition, men are kings,” said Ms Anna Ayopo.

Although the country is waiting for the Domestic Relations Bill, Ms Ayopo says the Karimojong, a cluster of culturally related people is stuck strongly to their traditional and cultural values governed by the traditional justice system that has seen many a woman oppressed, many a people hanged for committing petty crimes and others jailed in a pit dug in the ground as punishment.

“The issue here is not whether it is good or not for women, but as long as men deem it good. And this explains why defilement is not an issue here and even as I speak to you, I am not safe,” says Ms Ayopo.

Karimojong women, who are not allowed to attend clan meetings but must stay away and be communicated to by the men, have been victims of domestic violence. The situation is grave and there is widespread agitation for change in the attitudes, laws and social values which have combined to keep Karimojong women in agony.

In Karamoja, victims of domestic violence have concussions, bruises, broken bones, permanent damage to joints, hearing and vision impairment, miscarriages, complicated deliveries, still birth and rupture of internal organs, among others.

Apparently, despite its gravity amongst a section of the Karimojong who have gone to school, domestic violence is by far the most hidden social crime in the sub-region.

Whereas it is hidden due to the social values attached to men-women relations where men are perceived to be supreme beings in the sub-region, the constitution of Ugandaand international conventions which Uganda has ratified clearly relate men and women as equal partners. This is not true in Karamoja sub-region where tradition rules.

Mr Michael Edikoi, the head of Nakapiripirit District’s community based services says although women have been speaking about emanicipation, empowering the ordinary women to engage with public policy to ensure that their needs are catered for in local government programmes, in Karamoja it is not known and women have remained at the mercy of the men.

He revealed that apart from thinking about cattle, the Karimojong are reluctant to participate in activities for positive change and that the girls resent formal education for cultural and traditional reasons.

“And many of the Karimjong view formal education as a means of interfering with their lifestyle and attitude. This explains why there are low numbers of enrolment in formal schools within Karamoja sub-region even with government free education for all in primary and secondary schools,” said Mr Edikoi.

He revealed that Karimojong girls are kept at home to help in domestic chores and to also prepare them for marriage in a cultural way which makes her fetch a high bride price, usually up to 60 head of cattle.

Mr Felix Oroma, an advocate at the centre for legal assistance in Karamoja says because of its remoteness many Karimajongs still live traditional lifestyles governed by traditional rules and customs.

Mr Aroma who has started Karimoja Law Chambers in Nakapiriprit, the first of its kind, has opted to serve his people within the same region. He is the first person to try to disrupt the traditional judicial system that has persisted in Karamoja for over 100 years.

He heads daily for the villages with local NGO, Association for World Education (Uganda Chapter) that is involved in changing the lifestyle of the Karimojong through preaching rule of law and democracy to teach human rights, emancipation of women, and the constitution; all strange ideals to the traditional Karimojong.

“I appreciate and have interest in our traditions and customs because they are the preserve of our historical link but I am determined at the same time to help my people change to the modern judicial system so that human rights can be respected here,” says Aroma