By Mulengera Reporters
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Hon. Norbert Mao, has taken a hard stance against government officials who use their power and influence to interfere with gender-based violence (GBV) cases, saying such actions are denying justice to survivors and making a mockery of the justice system.
Mao who spoke during the Access to Justice Symposium for GBV Survivors held on Thursday at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, said Uganda will not defeat GBV unless it confronts the uncomfortable truth, that some of the people frustrating the justice process are those with access to the corridors of power.
The symposium, organized by the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) in partnership with UNFPA, brought together key actors in the justice system, development partners, and civil society to reflect on the progress and gaps in ensuring survivors get justice.
Mao pointed out that there are cases where powerful individuals interfere with investigations, frustrate prosecutions, and influence court processes, a behavior which is part of the reason why GBV cases drag on for years without resolution.
“There are people who tamper with how cases are handled,” Mao said, adding that they delay justice, interfere with the DPP, and even make phone calls to protect suspects.
The minister likened the struggle against GBV to David facing Goliath, saying the battle may be tough, but it must be fought. “You may not know how it will end, but once you stand up and say, I’m going to fight this, that’s when you begin solving the problem,” he said.
Mao was particularly disturbed by the practice of resolving defilement cases through informal negotiations, citing his own district of Gulu, where some families accept as little as UGX 2 million as compensation for defilement, often encouraged by the police.
“I wish someone would defile your daughter, you police officers telling people to negotiate, then you would understand that what you’re doing is not just wrong, but aiding a criminal,” he said.
Minister Mao also warned that such practices not only deny justice to the victims, but also send a dangerous message that sexual violence can be paid off, because “when you let a hyena judge the case of a goat, don’t expect fairness,” an African proverb goes.
Speaking about the plight of vulnerable women in Kampala, especially those in low-income settlements who face abuse but are rarely taken seriously when they report, Mao singled out sex workers as among the most affected, noting that many are mocked by police officers when they report sexual violence.
“Prostitutes are also victims of GBV. But when they go to report, they are laughed at and reminded of the kind of business they are in, as if that justifies the violence.”
The minister noted that beyond the legal system, Ugandan society must also reflect on its own role in enabling GBV, criticizing the widespread objectification of women, pointing out how even women themselves have normalized derogatory labels like ‘dish’ or “embooko” when referring to themselves.
“We must think about these things. Because when you start to see people as objects, you start to believe that they can be used and discarded.”
He added that his Ministry is committed to supporting all efforts geared toward prevention, effective response, and the elimination of impunity, though according to him, institutions alone cannot win the battle, and the entire society must come on board.
His remarks came shortly after a heartfelt address by Dr. Katja Kerschbaumer, Head of the Austrian Embassy/Development Cooperation, who highlighted that many survivors remain trapped in abusive relationships because they lack the resources and support systems to escape.
Dr. Katja told the gathering that without safe shelters, legal aid, counselling, and economic support, many survivors are forced to stay with their abusers not because they want to but because they have nowhere else to go. And without protection, there is no justice. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
