By Emmanuel Okol
TESO
A section of Teso leaders have attributed the rise in domestic violence to false prophets.
The chairman LCV Ngora district, Mike Odongo Lo’Asio while speaking during the send off of ASP Darlington Eiru at Oderai Ward, Soroti City West recently.
Odongo cautioned believers across Teso sub region to desist and reject false prophets saying a number of gender based domestic violence is caused by false prophets.
He said most of the prophets in churches are not prophesying as was done by prophets during the time of Jesus Christ.
“As leaders of Teso, we’re ready to crack down on all false prophets who have made GBV in the region to surge,” he added.
Betty Abur, a female councillor representing Palam Sub County at Katakwi district council in an exclusive interview, cautioned against being greedy and sidelining women from family wealth, property ownership and false pastors. Abur said she usually uses funerals, wedding ceremonies and community gatherings to convey her anti-domestic violence messages.
Annet Akello, 36, a victim of domestic violence and resident of Ongongoja Sub County in Katakwi, says women are often assaulted but they don’t report to police for fear they will be divorced by their husbands.
Meanwhile, Bishop Hosea Odongo of Soroti church of Uganda during his sermon asked Christians to follow Jesus not human deeds.
Cecilia Engole, a gender activist and Director of Teso Women Peace Activists (TEWPA), is worried about the escalating rate of domestic violence in families.
Some women activists in the Teso sub region have raised concerns about the rampant cases of violence in the area and ask government to intervene towards the growing numbers of churches.
Edson Obukulem, the East Kyoga regional police spokesman, says police have always emphasized family dialogue in case of any conflict between couples.
However, a police report indicates that Kumi, Soroti, Katakwi, Serere and Ngora districts have registered many cases of violence against women especially in rural areas. In 2016, police in the region recorded more than 2,000 cases of domestic violence, registering a huge increment compared to the previous year’s records of 1,364 cases.
