Forceful, harmful circumcision is a violation of rights of the boy child 

Mr Michael Aboneka. Photo/Courtesy

What you need to know:

  • As we celebrate efforts against FGM to protect girls and women, who is taking interest in protecting boys against harmful and forceful circumcision? The culture is not bad, however, there are aspects of it that we should discuss.

Circumcision when done well, may not be bad. Many do it for religious, cultural and health reasons. It is also fine when others choose not to, it is their choice.

We have long spoken against female genital mutilation (FGM) . The practice was criminalised with the enactment of the Prohibition of the Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2010.

Much as there are still a few isolated cases of FGM in the country, at least it is an offence and religion or culture is not a defence under this law.

As we celebrate efforts against FGM to protect girls and women, who is taking interest in protecting boys against harmful and forceful circumcision? The culture is not bad, however, there are aspects of it that we should discuss.

There have been reports about the forceful and harmful circumcision going awry including transmitting HIV/Aids.

In my early years, I witnessed my schoolmates in primary school undergo a forceful and painful cultural circumcision. They were subjected to trekking several kilometres under the scorching sun, dancing and donning heavy regalia, “malwa” (local brew) being spat on them and men wielding huge sticks were always there to ensure they didn’t escape.

This was traumatising for a child of Primary Four (who was under 12 years). To make matters worse, they would threaten the boys that should they display cowardice, they would be beaten because this would bring shame to their household and as such, they continued to undergo the callous practices in the name of respecting elders.

On the day of circumcision, usually Saturday afternoon, a man with an old unsterilised knife appeared, cut the foreskin the first time, ran away, and came back for the second cut and then the last.

Meanwhile, the boy was being washed with a concoction of water and red pepper using a dry maize cob. Imagine scrubbing the bleeding penis of a 10-year-old boy with a dry maize cob with water mixed with pepper in the name of “being a man.” 

Meanwhile, several boys took a long time to heal as sometimes the chief “circumciser” did not do a proper job and in the end, the boys could not come back to school in time because they were still nursing their wounds, which sometimes became septic!

All the above scenarios are unlawful as they expose the child to physical pain, and psychological and physiological torture/harm and even have a toll on their education.

How different is the above process from FGM? No one should be treated to such harmful, degrading cultural experience. If FGM is harmful to girls and women, how then is this kind of circumcision acceptable to the boy child?

If we must progress as a civilised society, we must transcend tribal, cultural and religious sentiments when dealing with the welfare and wellbeing of children.

The defence of religion and culture is not available under the law. Uganda has an international, regional and national obligation to take all measures to ensure the boy child is protected from forceful and harmful circumcision through policy and legal framework.

Should we discuss whether boys who have not attained majority age should undergo this ritual in this manner? Is it possible to do it without inflicting both physical and psychological harm?

Is it in the best interests of the child? Is it possible to have specialised trained medical personnel to conduct the circumcision?

Can we let the boys grow and make decisions to get circumcised when they are of majority age? How do we draw the balance between the right to passage and the harm it causes to the boy child? What options exist to ensure that the boy child is protected?

Mr Michael Aboneka, 
Partner: Thomas & Michael Advocates