Prevalence of violence against the girl child during COVID–19 school closure in Uganda : a case study of Bugangari Parish in Rukungiri District

Abstract

The study assessed the prevalence of violence against girls during COVID–19 school closure in Uganda using Bugangari Parish in Rukungiri district as a case study. Specifically, the study established the various forms of violence against girls during the COVID–19 school closure; found out the causes of violence against the girls during the COVID– 19 school closure; and suggested measures to curb violence against girls during the COVID–19 school closure in Bugangari Parish Rukungiri district. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were employed to collect primary data. Questionnaires and interview guides were the data collection instruments used by the researcher. Data was analyzed using percentages and presented using tables and charts. The study found out that there are various forms of violence against girls such as heavy work, excessive beating, early pregnancies, child labor, sexual harassment and early forced marriages in Bugangali, however, these cases increased during COVID-19 school closure. The study also established poverty as the leading cause of violence against the girl child during school closures, where majority of the parents lost their jobs during COVID– 19 lockdown, resulting into idleness, poverty, increased stress and depression thus leading to committing violence against girls. Finally, it was revealed that the measures that have been put in place to curb down violence against girls such punishing perpetrators of crimes; sensitization of the public about the dangers of gender based violence, and providing financial support are not adequate. It was therefore recommended that: there should be massive sensitization of the public about dangers of violence to girls as this will help in early detection and reporting cases of violence against girls; strict laws should be put in place to deal with perpetuators of violence against girls; and police should improve on enforcement where all perpetrators of violence are arrested, aligned before courts of law and prosecuted.