The absence of essential social services is impeding efforts to combat FGM (Female Genital Mutilation).

Insufficient road infrastructure and the absence of schools and vital social services present significant obstacles to governmental and civil society efforts to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Sebei and Karamoja sub-regions.

FGM involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other non-medical injury to female genital organs, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It can lead to severe health issues such as bleeding, urinary problems, childbirth complications, and increased newborn mortality.

Despite the Ugandan government’s enactment of the Anti-FGM Act of 2010, the practice persists in various areas. This issue was discussed during a meeting led by adolescents with policymakers on the availability of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual Protective Health Services. Organized by Action Aid International Uganda (AAIU) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the meeting highlighted local leaders’ concerns at Akello Hotel in Soroti City on July 19, 2024.

Leaders emphasized that FGM continues clandestinely in remote areas due to inadequate access to roads and essential services like schools. They noted progress where schools are established, attributing reductions in FGM to increased awareness among students and parents.

Festo Majinjach, program coordinator of Sabiny Transformation Initiative, highlighted ongoing challenges in hard-to-reach areas, where the practice persists due to limited law enforcement presence and poor infrastructure. He cited specific locations like Lemusui in Nakapiripit and Kapsindai in Kapchorwa, noting the difficulty of access and heightened risk for communities near Mt. Elgon National Park and the plains of Sebei.

During the meeting, Male Champions committed to using their networks to access schools and raise awareness among peers about the dangers of harmful practices like FGM, child marriages, and sexual and gender-based violence.

Majinjach reported a concerning increase in FGM incidents in 2021 in Sebei, underscoring resistance to the Anti-FGM law. Tragically, four girls in Kaptererwo Sub County, Bukwo district, lost their lives due to severe bleeding from secret circumcisions.

Efforts to combat FGM are also hindered by poverty, insufficient educational facilities, and inadequate healthcare access, which perpetuate high illiteracy rates and hinder community education efforts.

While reported cases of FGM have decreased in urban areas with better infrastructure and services, the practice persists in rural and remote regions like Karamoja and Sebei. Community engagement, particularly through youth-led initiatives and male advocacy, remains crucial in reshaping cultural attitudes and enforcing legal protections against FGM.