Because I feel empowered I have no more fear
Actionaid Ireland, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has supported almost 40,000 gender-based violence survivors in Uganda over the last ten years – thanks to the generous support of the people of Ireland. MIRIAM DONOHOE visited Gulu in northern Uganda and spoke to two women whose lives have been transformed because of the work of the dedicated Actionaid Uganda team...
Irene stands tall and proud as she points out her small plot of land abundant with maize and vegetables in Te-okutu village in Amuru district, Gulu.
The 42-year-old mother-of-nine is happy because the harvest is going to be good this year after unusually heavy rain.
There is a stir in the village due to my visit with the Actionaid Uganda team. In the searing heat, curious locals look on in amusement. Two of Irene’s shy young grandchildren clutch at her legs, and try to hide under her traditional dress.
Life has not always been this good for soft-spoken Irene, who has survived horrific violence and abuse at the hands of her partner, but now has the support of Actionaid with funding from the Irish public.
“Because I feel empowered, I now have no more fear,” says Irene.
Her story starts in 2006 when her husband died at the end of the brutal war between the government and Lord’s Resistance Army rebels which devastated northern Uganda, resulting in death, hundreds of thousands of internal displacements and the systematic abuse of women and children.
Like thousands after the end of the war, Irene moved with her five children from an internally displaced camp in Pabbo County in Amuru District to Te-okutu village, where she claimed land.
She found it hard farming and raising her young children on her own, and she started a new relationship. Her partner moved into Irene’s house and they jointly farmed the land.
In the early years things were okay. But then the abuse started.
“He started to complain that he had to take care of my late husband’s children, and he wanted them to go back to the camp,” she said.
As things deteriorated her partner started to reject even his own children. He insisted that any food from the land should only be for him and not shared.
It was clear that talking about this period in her life brings back deeply painful memories for Irene. But she says it is her duty to tell her story in the hope that it helps others.
One day Irene’s partner set their straw roofed hut ablaze. Everything she owned was destroyed.
The village leaders told her she had to go to the police. But the police demanded money before they would pursue a case.
Irene and her family sought refuge
with neighbours, and to earn enough to feed the children she tended their gardens and land.
On the day Irene returned to claim what was left of her home her partner attacked her and told her to leave for good with all the children. She refused.
“He lit spear grass and burned me. He did awful things to my body. I could not move with the pain.”
Because of the beatings and the trauma, Irene couldn’t sleep at night and stopped eating. She was told about Actionaid and with her
youngest child walked several kilometres to the Actionaid office in Amuru to get help. “When I reached there, I was so dirty with torn clothes. The baby was naked. But the welcome they gave to me was great…they gave us food and clothes, and I started feeling love.” Irene and her baby stayed at the Actionaid shelter for a week where she got counselling and legal advice and was sent to hospital. Irene eventually returned to her village and thanks to support from Actionaid her partner was arrested, charged and sent to prison. “I am now confident and empowered.
Actionaid has given me peace of mind. I sleep without fear. I do my own stuff without any man having an influence. I am in charge of my children and taking care of them.” Irene is now helping other women who are being abused by their partners, and she urged Scovia, 26, who lives in nearby Kalolo village to seek help from Actionaid.
When I meet Scovia the mother-of two is busy preparing for the weekly tailoring class she gives to young girls in the village. She is setting up her sewing machine outside her hut, while her lively 18-month-old son, Joda, plays nearby with a small stick.
Scovia had her son Desmond, eight,
from her first marriage, a time when was making money as a seamstress, teaching tailoring and farming her small holding. After she left her husband she met the father of Joda.
He moved into her house and they agreed to farm together. They made good money from the harvest and Scovia agreed her partner could use the profits from the sale of the maize to start a business.
But she discovered he spent the money on drink and women, and had taken out a loan to pay a debt.
One day men came to take all the cassava crop in lieu of money her partner owed. When she challenged him he beat her up, threatened to strangle her, and would not allow her leave the house.
Scovia went to the local police, and twice paid them money in order for
He burned me...he did awful things to my body. I couldn’t move with the pain
them t o arrest her partner. “I discovered he had a relationship with the police and when I reported him, they tipped him off.” Actionaid accompanied her to the central police station in Gulu where she filed a complaint. Scovia stayed in the Actionaid shelter for four days. Her partner was eventually arrested. “Since he has gone life has become easy. I am happy. Before, the girls I used to train in tailoring would run away as he was so aggressive. Now they have started coming back and I am giving classes.
“I am able to put money I make from tailoring into my small farm. I am the one in charge, making decisions and looking after my money.”
Scovia said without Actionaid she may not be alive. “They gave me shelter, supported and counselled me. They gave me courage to carry
on.”
Actionaid Uganda Programme Manager David Komakech said the agency provides services to survivors in Gulu and eight other districts in Uganda through funding from Ireland.
Since 2012 almost 40,000 cases have been supported at Actionaid’s Genderbased Violence shelters across Uganda. And more than 16,000 cases were referred to courts with support from Actionaid legal advisors.
David says it is important to have men in communities play their part, and male champions and cultural and religious leaders have been trained to promote change among men in the community about women’s and girls’ rights.
To support Actionaid’s work in helping women like Irene and Scovia, you can make a donation this Christmas at www. actionaid.ie.
Now I am the one in charge, making decisions and looking after my money