After years of abuse, 36-year-old Allen Katushabe’s husband abandoned her with their children. At the time, she was pregnant with their youngest child, who is now six months old. The mother of three – a resident of Kisaamabare Cell, Mbaare Sub-county in Isingiro District – is a survivor of domestic violence. She’s nursing wounds after her husband injured her and their baby in a domestic brawl in which she also lost her left hand.

After her husband abandoned them, Katushabe struggled to take care of her children as a single mother. One day, her husband came back home and started from where he had stopped with his habit of abuse.

“When he came back home, he started by asking for food, which he had not provided. I told him that we have no food and ever since he left home, we have been surviving on [handouts from neighbors] and other good Samaritans in the village,” says Katushabe.

Katushabe narrates that this is when he started beating her up. Her children were not spared.

“After beating the children he took them outside then he came back for me with a panga and he started beating me as I was carrying my six-month-baby. I could not help myself; he cut off my right hand with a panga and after injuring me and the baby with severe cuts, he ran away thinking that I had died,” Katushabe shares.

She says her husband had abandoned her and their children for almost a year and even after injuring her he disappeared. She was taken to hospital by neighbours.

We found Katushabe bed ridden at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital where she is admitted with her six-month baby. She tearfully narrated her fears about facing life as a single mother with one hand, yet she was struggling even before the incident.  

Katushabe, who is currently admitted at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital surgical ward with her six-month-old baby, survived with deep cuts on the head and lost her left hand.

“I can’t imagine [life as a disabled single mother]; previously I would dig for people and get food to eat with my children. This has now come to an end because I can no longer dig or do any productive work. The situation has worsened for me,” says Katushabe. 

Police and local leaders in Rwizi region have expressed concern over the increasing number of domestic violence cases in the districts of Mbarara, Isingiro, Rwampara, Ntungamo, Kiruhura, Kazo and Ibanda. Police statistics indicate that the area has registered over 600 cases of domestic violence in the last six months.

The Rwizi regional police have for the last three years been ranked second in the annual police crime report.

According to SP Vela Mwakiire, the Regional Police Officer for Child and Family Protection Unit, Isingiro District tops in the cases followed by Kiruhura and Ibanda.

“Police has embarked on a massive community policing campaign to reduce cases of domestic violence,” says SP Vela. 

Similarly, Halson Kagure, the Public Relations Officer of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, revealed that on a quarterly basis the facility admits about 700 cases related to domestic violence.

“The hospital, in collaboration with other civil society organizations, has embarked on a drive to contain the vice that is wrecking many families.”

He notes that through campaigns like the 16 Days of Activism, they will find a lasting solution to the increasing domestic violence cases that have compromised the guarantee of basic needs to family members, especially children.

Katushabe’s case is just one in several cases of domestic violence in the country. According to the Annual Police Crime Report 2020, 17,664 domestic violence cases were registered, up by 29% from 13,693cases in 2019.

The post Losing her right hand to domestic violence: terror from Katushabe’s marriage appeared first on The Other Voice.

It’s a common societal perception that every woman would wish to marry a perfect man. People with disabilities in particular face prevalent discrimination in relationships. This is not, however, always the case because preferences and attitudes towards relationships are highly individual and vary widely. 

While some individuals have biases about dating someone with disability, many are open to relationships based on compatibility, personality, and shared values rather than physical attributes as the story of Sylvia Kyokusiima and Milton Ninsiima proves. Kyokusiima narrates her relationship journey with Ninsiima, who was born with a physical disability. 

How they met 

Kyokusiima and Ninsiima met in Mbarara. Their meeting was coincidental. One rainy day, Kyokusiima and a friend were heading somewhere but they had to take shelter from a heavy downpour. “When the storm started, one of the gentlemen inside the shop where we were sheltered directed his colleague, whom I guessed to be his brother, to offer us seats,” says Kyokusiima. 

She explains that they watched Television as they waited for the rain to stop. When the rain stopped, Kyokusiima and her friend resumed their journey. “After we had left the shop and moved for about a kilometer, the brother of the gentleman in the shop came running after us; he told me that his brother had told him to go back with the lady who had big eyes.” 

Obviously that was Kyokusiima. And the gentleman in the shop was Milton Ninsiima, who is now her husband.

She was surprised and wondered what a person with disability could want from her. “My whole body got goose pimples, I was asking myself what the disabled man wanted from me,” she adds. Kyokusiima says she shouted at the messenger not to even bother her again.

One day, Kyokusiima and Ninsiima met in the market and shockingly they both looked at each other in a way they never expected. She says Ninsiima offered her money to buy items from the market, which she accepted. The two met on several occasions until Ninsiima won her affection. They have now lived together for over 15 years and they are planning to legalize their marriage soon. They are blessed with three children.

What people say 

In the beginning it wasn’t easy. At some point Kyokusiima contemplated quitting the relationship. Her father-in-law thought she had come to steal their son’s money. “I remember the day his father found me at the shop, he quarreled, saying I was taking money from his son!” 

Most of her relatives and friends also wondered why she would have a relationship with a disabled man. “I remember my aunt and my parents asked me whether that was the only man I could choose,” she states. Kyokusiima paid a deaf ear to people’s opinions. She had found true love. 

Kyokusiima says hers is a normal, happy marriage and as a wife she gets everything that any woman would wish to get. “Much as people make all sorts of comments about us, especially while I am working with my husband on the street, this does not affect me in any way.” 

What they do for a living 

Kyokusiima’s husband is a street preacher in Kampala. Ninsiima has been preaching for over five years and his passion for spreading the Word of God has sustained his family. They earn a living through people’s blessing.  “We have constructed a decent house, bought some cows and goats and we take care of our parents,” Ninsiima explains. 

He now plans to start a business for his wife and enroll his children in better schools.

In a day, Ninsiima says he receives between 70,000 and100,000 Shillings from well wishers. On a bad day, he gets about 50,000 Shillings.

Ninsiima believes what pulls the audience to him is his selection of good gospel music and encouraging words which motivates and gives people hope. “Counselling is something people need but they don’t get it. That’s the opportunity I utilize, to teach the word of God through preaching on the street.” he adds. 

When I asked Milton how he won Kyokusiima’s heart, he just smiled and said that it was God’s grace. “When you trust God, he can do what seems impossible”, adding:  “Yesu nze yankuba repair”, literally meaning Jesus repaired him and took away all his burdens.

Ultimately, successful relationships are built on mutual respect, trust, communication, and compatibility. People with disabilities are just as capable of forming healthy, loving relationships as anyone else, and it’s important to challenge stereotypes and promote inclusivity in all aspects of society, including dating and relationships.

The post Married to a man with disability: A tale of strength and resilience appeared first on The Other Voice.

When Irene Nansikombi gave birth to her son Raphael (not real name) in 2011, she didn’t realize he would be different. Indeed, he went through all the development milestones just like any other child and even breastfed more than her other children. He sailed through the three years of nursery school smoothly and joined primary school.

Ms Nansikombi, a resident of Kakiri Kyabalamba in Wakiso District is a teacher and a mother of three. Raphael, her second child, was born with a condition known as dyslexia, a learning disorder that involves difficulty in reading. She notes that the journey of raising him wasn’t any different from her other children and in fact, he was brighter than the siblings. He would quickly think out of the box.

“During Covid-19, their father told them to do different projects using the available resources at home. One did poultry, another farming and he did a hand-washing tap. None of us knew that he would pull off a unique project,” says Nansikombi, adding that Raphael does all house chores just like the siblings.

How she got to know Raphael was different

“When he started nursery school, everything was okay and I think it was a level of shading and reading objects; I never detected it early. Around primary three when things were getting tougher, I started getting complaints from his teachers that Raphael would not complete his class work and yet he seemed to understand everything. Indeed, since I am a teacher, I used to rehearse some work with him at home so that he understands everything very well.

“But whenever I could tell him to write for me a story about how his day was or do his work, all his homework could be full of spelling mistakes. And every time I could visit him at school to check his performance, he would be among the last learners in class.”

Teachers advised Nansikombi to start private coaching for the child, something she says she didn’t believe in. She said being a teacher, she would wonder how her child could perform badly yet he understands everything.

After the Covid-19 restrictions were eased, Nansikombi transferred Raphael to the school where she teaches so that she could monitor his progress closely. Surprisingly even at her school, teachers complained that her son is always the last in class.

When he reached Primary 6, she discussed with her husband to have him checked because he would pass on probation and he was advised not to sit for Primary Leaving Examinations. Nansikombi started searching the Internet for clues about their son’s condition. That is when she came across the term dyslexia. She also recalls reading about some articles from Dr Njuki Eria Paul on the condition.

As a couple they decided to visit Dr Njuki where they were advised to carry out several tests and the results indicated that their child has dyslexia. “As a mother this blew me off, I remember crying for over one hour not believing that this was happening to my son. I could not accept it.”

After coming to terms with it, Nansikombi made a decision to read widely about the condition in order to help her child thrive. She credits her husband for offering comfort and support. She explains that as a mother, it took her a long time to come to terms with it.

Signs to look out for

As a parent who has observed her child over time, Nansikombi shares what parents should look out for, purely from the perspective of a mother. Any unusual patterns observed should be referred to a medical personnel for proper diagnosis and expert guidance.  

According to Nansikombi, signs and symptoms differ depending on the age of the individual but in early stages, one of the key indicators is delayed speech. For example, if the child is two years old and hasn’t said the first ten words, then there is need for close monitoring for other patterns.

Another symptom in dyslexic children is that they are not enthusiastic about school. A practical example Nansikombi gives parents is to ask their children to write them letters. She says they tend to only write a few words, often with spelling mistakes. For instance, the word boy will be written as ‘doy’, or writing a letter like b facing anti-clockwise because that’s what they see behind their brain. She notes that when you ask them what they mean, they will explain it to you very well and this confuses most teachers who handle such children.

When a teacher crosses their work and punishes them, it traumatizes them because teachers do not understand them and they feel disconnected.

Another indicator Nansikombi shares is mixing up things like sounds of letters where the child brings the last letters at the beginning, and substituting words in sentences.

In adults, following directions is a big challenge. Right and left often confuse them; a child may also exchange the sides of slippers and if that happens consistently, together with related patterns, then there is need to see a medical personnel. 

Additionally, dyslexic people find it difficult to memorize addresses, numbers, and alphabets.

Research indicates that 1 in 5 people have dyslexia but parents and teachers are often unaware of the condition, labelling them as slow, instead of employing appropriate learning methods to help the child cope.

Nansikombi advises that parents should handle dyslexic children with caution because once you put them under a lot of pressure to achieve what you expect of them and tick off development milestones, the child can easily lose focus and confidence in figuring out what to do right.

What to do

Nansikombi advises that once you detect some of the signs mentioned above, it is important to take the child for a psycho-education assessment by a qualified person. She guides that while it is common to go through denial in initial stages, it is important that parents remain positive and find ways to appreciate, affirm and support their child to enjoy learning.

She further advises parents to talk to the teachers and explain to them the condition of their children so that they are not traumatized while in school. If this is not addressed, the highly competitive and sometimes hostile school environment might affect the child even more. Parents should work closely with teachers to help nurture and develop the talent of dyslexic children.

It is equally important to speak to schools to develop “Individualized Education Plan”, which teachers can employ to accommodate the needs of the child. At home, ensure to create an enabling environment so that such children feel part of the family.

In Uganda, there are schools like Njuki Diagnostic Center that accommodate such children and they excel both in exams and life because during UNEB, they are given extra time and they usually have tutors who support them in writing while they speak the answers.

Enrolling dyslexic children in schools where they are not accommodated is unhelpful and in the long run, they are deemed dull, leading to loss of self-esteem, depression and other negative effects on their wellbeing. 

On nutrition, Nansikombi advises parents to seek professional advice but also do research about healthy diets. Importantly, she says parents should reduce sugars, food colors, diaries, and wheat products as well as ensuring the child is well hydrated.

About Dyslexia: Doctor’s Opinion

According to Dr Njuki, dyslexia is a neural condition that affects someone’s language acquisition and expression. This can be verbal and nonverbal symbols like road signs.  

Dyslexia has no cause because it’s a genetic condition. For example, if the mother or father is dyslexic, there are high chances of giving birth to children who are dyslexic. For instance, if you give birth to 5 children 2/3 can be dyslexic and if both parents have dyslexia then children are varied to have high degrees of different levels of dyslexia: mild, moderate, and severe ones.

Njuki adds that for a couple, if one has dyslexia 50% will be inherited by their children.

Statistics on people with dyslexia in Uganda is, however, inadequate according to Njuki but he gives general signs and symptoms that can help parents detect areas of concern to take the next step.

He points out the following:

• Lack of vocabulary and challenges in writing and spellings. Instead of a book they will write a dook. P as 9, instead of letter M they will write W, they also omit letters in words.
• Speech delay is also another symptom Dr Njuki highlighted. Most people with dyslexia speak after two years or older.
• The history of class repeating is also another big pointer of dyslexia. If a child takes longer to master the days of the week, months of the year and writing alphabets in order and finds trouble writing letters and sounds, then there is need for expert advice.
• Also, it is crucial to pay attention if a child cannot remember the names of their family members. Dr Njuki advises parents to take their children to a professional who is qualified to check dyslexia if they notice some of the symptoms pointed out. He also advises that there are schools where such children can be guided to do well with support from professionals.
• Lastly to note Njuki advises parents and teachers not make the children repeat classes because it does not solve their problem. What they require is school settings that accommodate their needs.

The post Challenge of raising a child with Dyslexia appeared first on The Other Voice.

Bonnita Nyamwire, Co-Director of Research at Pollicy, expressed, “This report underscores the pressing need for equitable conditions in Uganda’s digital labor landscape. Our research highlights the challenges faced by platform workers, particularly women, and emphasizes the importance of adopting comprehensive safety measures and proactive strategies against harassment.”

By 2021, nearly 60% of Ugandan youth were engaged in gig work, a number that surged due to the digital shift accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This transition saw more individuals opting for short-term employment arrangements with employers outside of traditional office settings. Notably, it thrust significant technology companies like Glovo, Quicksend, and Delivery Yo, as well as transportation firms like Safe Boda, Uber, Bolt, and Little Ride into the limelight. Workers flocked to platform work enticed by promises of decent incomes and flexible working conditions amidst high unemployment rates.

However, this research found no evidence to suggest that workers across platforms were guaranteed even a minimum wage after costs. Moreover, workers reported that the platform work environment is far from safe, lacking the dignified conditions every worker deserves.

While ride-hailing services offer convenient transportation, they have also been associated with safety incidents that particularly affect women drivers. Sadly, few women engage in the digital platform economy in roles like ride-hailing or delivery due to what many described as unfair conditions. Women working in these sectors reported experiencing physical and verbal harassment, groping, leering, and even physical assault. Instances of robbery, abusive conduct, and refusal to pay for rides were also reported. Shockingly, platforms offered little evidence of meaningful safety measures, leaving workers to fend for themselves, often resulting in income loss.


To address these critical issues, it is imperative that platforms adopt policies that prioritize the safety and well-being of women workers. This includes comprehensive safety measures, specialized training, the implementation of modern technology, and proactive strategies to combat harassment. By doing so, we can empower women to participate fully and safely in digital labour platforms.

The research was done under the Fairwork project, coordinated by the Oxford Internet Institute and the WZB Berlin Social Science Centre, in partnership with Pollicy, a feminist tech collective based in Uganda, and with support from the Germany Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

The report is available in English or Luganda here.

For further inquiries and information, please contact:

Pollicy
Bonnita Nyamwire
bonnita@pollicy.org

For Fairwork
media@fair.work 

The post A new report calling for fair working conditions on digital labor platforms in Uganda has been launched appeared first on The Other Voice.