Enough is Enough – Ugandan Women march to protest women killings & kidnaps

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Fellow Blogger Prudence Nyamishana at the #WomensMarchUg held earlier today.

I had the opportunity to interview a couple of ladies for jobs a few weeks ago. We asked few standard questions. How old are you, Are you married, what do you know about this industry etc. We also asked where they lived and if they would be able to handle the commute to and fro work especially since these particular jobs meant that one would have to work ‘after office hours’. One of the interviewees said all was okay. But she also highlighted something that got me to think. “I am okay working odd hours apart from the new insecurity issues.”

She was aware that times have changed. That Kampala is not as safe as it used to be. And that to her was a matter of concern. It was in so many ways going to affect her employment.

Since the start of 2017, women within and around Kampala, Uganda – have been found dead. The count going onto 43. Many have been found dead by either being stabbed or strangulation, some have been found with body parts missing, others with inhumane things done to them like sticks up their vagina.

I cannot say how many times I have had my father message me and ask where I am as soon as it turns 9:00pm. So for the last couple of months, I have not had a night life. I have to be home by 8:00pm.

A cousin was hit by iron bar clad men just at her gate as she was getting home.  It was about midnight.  That message was sent to all of us family members – laced with fear.  For our sanity – come back home early,  Yours sincerely  – Parents. Such is the fear that has Ugandans especially women have to live with.

There have been arrests made but no comprehensive answers as to how and why these women are being killed.

Today,  30 June 2018 made history.  Women in Uganda chose to march and say – enough is enough. It was great to women come together from all walks of life and voice their concerns, their anger towards the disrespect of women that has left many feeling unsafe, uncared for, and unheard.

Placards of the 43 women with their faces and names were carried to give honor to them.

It’s important to note that many attempts by women organised by Civil Society or otherwise to protest have always been foiled by the Uganda Police. Even this was about to be labelled illegal until the Minister of Internal affairs Hon Jeje Odong stepped in. He wrote to the Head of Uganda Police asking him to reverse the decision made  about a week earlier stopping the protest from happening. Permission to hold the match was granted on Friday evening, for the protest to happen on Saturday morning.

The March was graced by the US Ambassador to Uganda and the French Ambassador to Uganda.

It was very emotional as women shared reasons as to why they chose to March. A friend Anne Fleischmann who is German but lives and works in Uganda wrote this on Twitter :

This goes to show that many have been affected regardless of whether they are Ugandan or not.

There were groups of women work over that marched in solidarity with the main event in Uganda.  Cyprus, Berlin, South Sudan and Spain are some of the countries that had women representing. Talk about unity in mission.

The men were also there to offer support in full swing. A number marched with placards that had profound messages too

Making history was just the beginning.  And I am sure the government saw that, yes it’s possible to have peaceful protests.  Power to all women in Uganda that made it a point to make their voices heard.  And more so to Twitter Feminists  that showed it’s possible to have a movement online and offline.

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