KAMPALA – Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Uganda have condemned the mishandling of a defilement case involving a 14-year-old girl and the subsequent mob justice against her mother, Hajjat Zuurah.
The CSOs, including the Islamic Women’s Initiative for Justice, Law and Peace, The Women’s Probono Initiative, Center for Domestic Violence Prevention, and UGANET, expressed profound disturbance at the public officials’ handling of the case.
The case highlights the challenges faced by Uganda in addressing gender-based violence and defilement. According to the Uganda Police Force’s annual crime report, defilement cases increased by 34% from 13,118 in 2015 to 17,567 in 2016. This surge in cases underscores the need for effective measures to prevent and address such crimes.
In their statement ready by Ms. Mwanga Mastullah Ashah from Islamic Women’s Initiative for Justice, Law and Peace, the CSOs criticized public officials, including Ministers, Members of Parliament, and a Presidential Advisor, for victim-blaming and exposing Hajjat Zuurah to mob justice.
“This approach to a sensitive and serious issue is wholly inappropriate and compromises the privacy, safety, and dignity of both the victim and her family. Instead of offering support and advocating for a swift, impartial investigation, these public figures have endangered the mother by making her a target of public outrage, ultimately undermining the very justice she seeks.”
They emphasized that such actions compromise the safety and dignity of victims and their families. Instead, the CSOs urged public officials to exercise caution and respect due process.
The CSOs urged:
- Public officials to exercise caution and respect due process
- Community leaders to condemn vigilantism and intimidation
- Police to thoroughly investigate and protect Hajjat Zuurah
- Judiciary to prioritize safety and security during court proceedings
- Members of Parliament and public officials to create safe environments for reporting cases
- Uganda Muslim Supreme Council to refrain from victim-blaming statements
They emphasized the importance of trauma-informed practices, respect, confidentiality, and accountability within the justice system.
The CSOs appealed for calm and respect for the justice process, allowing it to take its rightful course. They emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and civil society to address the challenges faced by Uganda in ensuring justice and protecting human rights.
