EDITOR
The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has raised alarm over the rising trend of alcohol consumption among women in Kisoro District, describing it as a growing concern linked to escalating domestic violence and household instability.
Speaking during a community human rights orientation session held Tuesday at Nyakinama Sub County headquarters, Theopista Twembi, the head of the UHRC Kabale Regional Office, revealed that Kisoro women now top the Kigezi sub-region in alcohol use — a trend she said is straining family relationships and fueling gender-based violence.
“Alcoholism among women is becoming a major factor in the rising domestic conflicts,” Twembi said. “It is affecting their participation in decision-making and worsening disputes within homes.”
Twembi noted that, according to police reports, Kisoro is also grappling with high rates of murder and general human rights violations, making it the most affected district in Kigezi.
Community members at the meeting acknowledged the role of excessive alcohol consumption, alongside financial disagreements and unequal asset control, in fuelling domestic tension. Cases where women take loans without informing their spouses, or men sell property without their wives’ consent, were cited as frequent triggers of violence.
Diana Nyakato, LC5 Woman Councilor for Nyakinama Sub County, praised UHRC’s community engagement efforts and urged continued collaboration to tackle the vice of domestic violence.
“As leaders, we must address both the root causes and emerging behaviors like alcoholism that are threatening the social fabric of our communities,” she said.
Twembi emphasized the need for families to practice mutual respect, open dialogue, and shared responsibilities in decision-making. She encouraged both men and women facing domestic abuse to report cases promptly and utilize the support offered by human rights offices.
The community meeting served as both a sensitization drive and a platform for open dialogue, with participants calling for more economic empowerment programs and awareness campaigns to reduce dependency, substance abuse, and household power struggles.
