Women demonstrate over court ruling in domestic violence case
Women activists march through Fort Portal town to the office of the RDC Kabarole district on Monday as they protested the court ruling in a domestic violence case. PHOTO BY FRANCIS TUSIIME
KABAROLE: Women activists in Fort Portal town have stormed the office of the Resident District Commission protesting against a lower court verdict in a domestic violence case in which a businessman Mr Switzen Kyamulesire was sued for torturing his wife Stella Kemigabo by allegedly pouring paraffin in her private parts.
Women carrying placards with words reading “We need justice, Police stop corruption, Court stop corruption, we need fairness for poor women, we want rights for women respected” walked from the heart of Fort Portal town on Monday uphill to Boma at the RDCs office.
Fort Portal Grade 1 magistrates’ court presided over by Feizo Mbale on Thursday last week ruled that Kemigabo could not avail court with enough evidence to prove her claims in the case of causing grievous harm.
Kyamulesire, is a resident of Mugoma village in Karambi sub county Kabarole District and a businessman at Mpanga market.
In a case that attracted attention from several stakeholders including the media, women activists and human rights NGOs, among others, Kemigabo sued Kyamulesire, saying on June 26, 2014 at around 12am after a domestic quarrel, he pulled her with the help of his employees and dumped her in a farm, tied her with a rope on the tree and poured paraffin in her private parts.
After the accused and other assailants accomplished their mission, the woman was left helpless crying for help in the forest until she was heard by the local residents who rescued and took her to a clinic in Fort Portal town.
“This case first remained dormant between Fort Portal central police station and the Resident State Attorney until recently when a team of female journalists including NTV’s Ruth Katusabe, Sylvia Kugonza and Beatrice Komuhimbo visited my home and found me rotting. They published my case in the media which picked the attention of other stake holders” Kemigabo said.
Ms Gertrude Balinda, councilor Rutete and Ms Mary Rwakyaka, councilor South Division led Kemigabo to police and the case was re-activated. The case raised more public concern.
The case file was for the first time forwarded to court in May.
Court later ruled that “the accused had no case to answer” because there was not enough evidence adduced in court to prove that paraffin was pouered in the woman’s private parts.
However, the ruling only served to infuriate women activists who on Monday marched to the Deputy Resident District Commissioner’s Ms Rose Monday Byabasaija who said that “It was unethical in a case with such evidence to be just thrown out without fair hearing or justice.”
She observed that many women in the villages are still suffering with domestic violence but they die in silence.
Byabasiaja appealed to the judiciary to ensure that justice prevails in the case so that they can stop other men from mistreating their wives.
But the district police commander Kabarole, Mr Musa Tibakirana said that police carried out
thorough investigations into the matter.
He however said that the case was criminal in nature, but grievous harm requires substantial evidence.
Kemigabo has appealed to High court and the case is yet to be heard.
