Sylvia K
The high prevalence of malnutrition and HIV in the Tooro region is linked to the widespread occurrence of Gender Based Violence (GBV) within families today. Data from the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey underscores the concerning situation in the Tooro sub-region, with poor feeding practices resulting in alarming statistics:
- 38% of children under five are stunted,
- 2.6 %suffer from wasting,
- 10.3%are born with low birth weight below 2.5kg
This surpasses the national stunting levels, standing at 25 percent lower than the 38 percent recorded for the Tooro region.
Dr. Aggrey Gweita, a Nutritionist at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital’s nutrition unit, highlights the gravity of the issue, noting that the hospital admits an average of 70 malnourished children.
At a recent Kabarole District Nutrition Coordination meeting, attended by various nutrition partners, Dr. Aggrey emphasized how broken social structures contribute to malnutrition, with many families disintegrating due to domestic violence, leaving children without proper care.
Rev. Sarah Kakyo,the HIV Coordinator for Ruwenzori Diocese, expressed concern over the escalating cases of Gender Based Violence, attributing them to couples’ inability to meet each other’s needs sexually, materially, and emotionally, resulting in children and couples contracting HIV.
She stressed the importance of stakeholders reaching out to communities to disseminate messages on GBV, sexual education, and nutrition across various platforms such as schools, churches, safe spaces, markets, and trading centers.
Cultural erosion fueling GBV in Tooro
Brian Kisembo, Chairperson of the District Nutrition Coordination Committee, called upon the Tooro kingdom to revist existing cultural practices to address the erosion of cultural values, particularly highlighting the harmful practice of involving young girls in marriage ceremonies locally known as KUCOKA.
Zebidayo Mwesige Mukwikwi, the Minister for Culture in the Tooro kingdom, acknowledged Kisembo’s concerns, explaining that while culturally, adult women are traditionally involved in introduction marriage ceremonies (KUCOKA) to showcase unmarried women and girls in the clan, the practice has been misused to exploit young girls.
