RONALDO N
Community Volunteer Initiative for Development (COVOID), a non-governmental organization operating mainly in South Western Uganda, has pledged to empower women as part of efforts to combat gender-based violence in Kanungu District.
This commitment was revealed during a stakeholders’ meeting held today at the district headquarters in Kanungu Town Council, where the organization engaged local leaders on strategies to strengthen community protection systems and promote social welfare.
The Executive Director of Community Volunteer Initiative for Development, Mr. Ben Bataringaya, noted that domestic violence continues to hinder development in many households across Kanungu District and the country at large. He emphasized that empowering women remains a key pathway to building stronger and more stable families.
Mr. Bataringaya further explained that COVOID is working under guidance from the Ministry of Water and Environment, with funding support from the World Bank, to promote women empowerment, strengthen family dialogue systems, protect children’s rights, ensure citizens benefit from government programs, and encourage timely reporting of human rights abuses. He called for cooperation between district leaders and residents to achieve lasting change in the community.
District stakeholders who attended the meeting, including the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Ambrose Mwesigye, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) represented by the District Planner Mr. Innocent Atuhaire, and the District Chairperson represented by his vice Mr. Joshua Rukundo, welcomed the initiative and pledged their support in the fight against gender-based violence.
They noted that collaboration between government and development partners is crucial in addressing social challenges affecting families. However, the RDC stressed the importance of fairness and justice in handling gender-based violence cases, urging all stakeholders to ensure that interventions are balanced, transparent, and community-centered.
