‘Sexual abuse is normalised’: Uganda struggles with MeToo
. In 2019, he issued a lengthy rebuttal of Mwesigye’s claims and a counterattack in which he accused her of a smear campaign. He said he had spoken to her in the past about dressing inappropriately and dyeing her hair red, and claimed to have withdrawn her from certain work situations because clients found her rude.“One time I confronted him [over] sexual harassment and he taunted me to report him to public services, saying that there was nothing much they would do to him.
“This is not something that I’m willing to let go. I’d already anticipated that, from start to finish, this could take at least 10 years, but it’s so upsetting that I’ve spent the first four without being heard,” she says. Eunice Musiime, executive director of Akina Mama wa Afrika, a pan-African women’s organisation, says: “Because of the structural and systemic issues with our criminal justice system, not many women would come out to report cases of sexual violence because they just know that it would not work in their favour.Defendants handcuffed together at a special session on gender-based violence in Kampala high court.her lecturer of attempted rape faced a severe backlash at her prestigious university.
The lecturer’s contract was terminated and the student was offered readmission with full tuition paid. “We did ride the #MeToo wave a bit, but the movement depended on a society having a public conscience. I think ours is dead as a country because sexual abuse is so normalised,” says the Ugandan feminist.
Mwesigye says she is sceptical about the country’s ability to deliver justice, arguing that the burden of proof falls too heavily on victims.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Community legal services turn clients away amid funding shortfall as family violence spikesCentres across Australia struggle with demand as sector awaits reforms indicated by attorney general Mark Dreyfus
Read more »
Victoria’s move to restrict ‘silencing’ sexual harassment victims welcomed by unions and lawyersState government proposes reforms to use of nondisclosure agreements by employers in Australian first
Read more »
'It's like a Hunger Games for rentals': How one Gold Coast man secured social housing and found his purposeAfter struggling to find a home for two years, Adam Pippos finally secured a place in Queensland's strained social housing sector giving it his own unique twist.
Read more »
Bombers scrape home against undermanned BrisbaneSunday’s game at the Gabba posed an interesting experiment. What would happen when essendonfc, a side that seems to have forgotten how to defend, came up against the brisbanelions, a side missing most of its defenders?
Read more »
Boris Johnson does not do normal. He may not be entirely in his right mindThe author of Just Boris says he should have stepped down long ago and may be struggling to confront the unpalatable truth about his lack of competence
Read more »