Men impregnate and dump us – Masindi disabled women decry

Summary:

• Disabled women in Masindi face challenges as men impregnate them and then abandon the mothers and children, leading to financial instability, hindering education opportunities, and perpetuating a cycle of poverty, as highlighted during a gender-based violence meeting in Masindi. Authorities address cases of child neglect and advocate for dialogue over violence in homes.

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The disabled women in Masindi have decried the pain they go through after being neglected by men who father their children and neglect them, rendering their children helpless and not getting a better education.

Robina Katusiime, the district woman councilor for people with disabilities, said that most disabled mothers are finding it hard to educate their children up to university level due to a lack of funds after their children have completed A because they are not financially stable and their husbands run away after impregnating them.

According to Katusiime, this has caused their children to not compete favorably for jobs due to a lack of academic qualifications and to remain poor without any stable income like other children with able-bodied parents.

She made the call during an annual district sex and gender-based violence meeting organized by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) at the Country Inn Hotel in Masindi town, with the objective of reducing gender-based violence in homes.

Annet Karamagi, the Masindi district probation and welfare officer, noted that her office has received cases of abled and rich men producing children with disabled women but failing to look after the children, adding that some have been arrested and taken to prison for child neglect.

Sgt. Juliet Kapere, the head of the family and child protection unit at Masindi Central Police Station, noted that they always register cases of men abandoning disabled women after producing children with them, and they call them and solve the matter amicably.

She further noted that those who turn out to be violent are arrested and taken to prison.

Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi District LCV chairperson, challenged the women who are educated and have big offices to maintain respect and discipline for their husbands in their homes if they are to have peace in their homes.

He also urged both men and women to prioritize dialogue in their homes instead of violence, which has increased gender-based violence in homes.

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