4.1 Prevailing forms of GBV
The study respondents were found to have experienced different forms of GBV as discussed below
Table 1. Forms of GBV
Forms of GBV
|
Alcoholism as the main cause of GBV
|
Physical
|
Psychological
|
Sexual
|
Economic
|
More than one form of GBV
|
75%
|
75%
|
56%
|
56%
|
87%
|
43%
|
Whereby, % = percentage of how often , a response was shared
|
Source: Primary data 2022
4.1.1 Majority experienced more than one form of GBV.
Example, Survivor16: …when we were in Congo I was married and we had three children, when the rebels came, the three children ran away, they left me and my husband in the house, then those rebels they tied us and started beating us. They beat us even one my ears does not work well, It has some dirty things it keeps bringing. They tied my husband and then they started using me. Then my husband said instead of using me Infront of him. Let them kill him. Then they killed him, they had pangas and they started cut, cutting him..
This is backed by the works of (European Institute of Gender Equality, u.d.) which share that some women experience multiple and interlocking forms of GBV. In the same tone, women in emergencies are faced with multiple and compounding forms of violence (John N. , Casey, Carino, & Mcgovern, 2020). The Shortfall with this prior wok is the lack a focus on the emergency communities of Uganda.
Physical violence GBV, was experienced by three-quarters of this study’s survivors. For instance, survivor11…even one day he (the abusive partner) put me like here and my child. And he was like, I slap my child and then my child also slaps me back. And my child refused. When she refused, my husband started beating her. And that is why my child left to get married, because of these issues. My husband used put all of us into the house, he closes the and starts beating all of us. And he chased away the elder child, he said this child should not be in my house….
Similarly, (Kwiringira, et al., 2018) share physical violence as another form of GBV. However, this prior study is just a content-thematic analysis.
Psychological violence GBV, was experienced by three-quarters of the study’s survivors.
E.g. survivor 9: …. When my ned man heard how I was raped, he started beating me and abusing me..
Psychological violence is also recognised by (Kwiringira, et al., 2018) as GBV in emergencies. This is the use of verbal threats on women (Emusu, et al., 2009), name-calling, bullying etc (Evens, et al., 2019).
Sexual violence GBV form, was shared by half of the study’s survivors.
Like survivor 2; ..then they(other family members) had gone to the garden., then those men, they got my man, they tied him and started cut-cutting him, then after cutting him, they took me to the forest and started using for a whole week….
The research of (Kwiringira, et al., 2018), also shares, sexual violence as a GBV form in Uganan refugee camps. Also, the works of (Muluneh, Stulz , Francis , & Agho, 2020) put forward sexual violence as one of the most prevailing forms of GBV in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the works of Muluneh, Stulz , Francis and Agho (2020) are not focused on Uganda
Economic violence GBV, was experienced by half of this study’s survivors.
Such as survivor14 ... The problem with me and my husband is money, when we don’t have money he goes. Then, I am in this group of savings, I go there and borrow some money. Then, I get some workers, then we dig. Then, when my husband sees that I have some maybe maize or everything you see, then he comes back, he sells off everything. Then he divides the money, then he takes some money to another wife in Mukondo. Then, with another remaining money he goes to Bukere he gets some lady to sleep with. Then he comes back with nothing. Then when I ask him, he starts beating me…
This gets its striking from the works of (Evens, et al., 2019) who found out that economic GBV is one the commonest forms of GBV. However, their works was conducted in the USA and not on refugees.
Alcoholism as a cause of GBV was shared by a quarter of this study’s survivors.
The study discovered that men resort to alcohol to forget their problems.
Eg, Survivor 8: …he gets the problem when he takes alcohol. When is sober he does not beat me..
This is backed by the works of (Watcher, et al., 2018), whose findings indicate that men’s substance abuse, triggers GBV in emergencies. Although, their research was conducted in Kenya and South Sudan.
The above findings and discussion, imply that different GBV survivors in the settlement, have experienced several forms of GBV. However, It should be noted that these forms negatively affects their lives (Rapanyane, 2021).
4.2When the GBV incidence happened
Table 2. When the GBV happened
When the GBV happened
|
|
Country of origin
|
From Uganda
|
Before and from Uganda
|
|
|
56%
|
81%
|
37%
|
|
Whereby, % = percentage of how often the responsed was shared
|
|
Source: Primary data 2022
The majority shared to have experienced GBV after reaching Uganda.
Survivor5: ..yeah we came from Congo with my husband. But when we reached this side, he married another second wife. He keeps at the second wife’s. …but he always comes back and beats me..
Half experienced GBV from their countries of origin.
Example Survivor9: ..when were in Congo, I was raped by 4 men, they even tied my legs with ropes I think you have seen. The scars even on the arms you can see. Then later the legs swell….
Few of the respondents shared to have experienced GBV both from their country of origin and after reaching the host nation.
Eg as narrated by survivor 1: when I was in Congo… they kidnapped my husband. then, they gang-raped me. …. that is when I decided to run away, from Congo and came to Uganda…I met their with a man. Unfortunately, the man I met there was not good. He was beating me, he was stealing the money I was getting….
The above findings are backed by the works of (Leibling, Barret, & Artz, 2020), who put forward that some reugee GBV survivors in Uganda, faced GBV incidences from their country of origin and some after reaching Uganda. This there implies that GBV in emergencies in the host and countries of origin.
4.2 Relationship with the perpetrator.
Table 3. Relationship with the perpetrator
Relationship with the perpetrator
|
Partner
|
Non-Partner
|
Stayed with him
|
Separated from him
|
|
31%
|
68%
|
43%
|
56%
|
Whereby, % = percentage of how often a response was shared
|
Source: Primary data 2022
The majority of the study’s survivors were perpetrated by non-partners Whereas, a few by their partners.
Eamgine Survivor15: …when were in Congo some rebels came, 5 of them. They tied my husband, they tied some clothes on his head not see, even on my children. Then They started raping me. Then when my child wanted to shout, they cut him. up to now, he does not have some part. Then after using me, they pierced again me with some knives on both sides of the stomach…
This finding disagrees with the (Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Developement, 2016) which reports, about 59% of women are perpetrated by their sexual partners. This finding, however, disagrees with (Muluneh, Stulz , Francis , & Agho, 2020), whose findings show that non-intimate partner violence (non-IPV) is rarely found in sub-Saharan Africa. Although, as earlier shared, were conducted outside Uganda.
The majority of the study’s survivors, separated from their partners after the violence.
Eg survivor 9: ..one day I separated from him. We separated from the chairman…
However, this finding disagrees with the study of (Whiting, 2016) who puts forward that those abused women tend to stay in abusive relationships citing; distorted thoughts, damaged self-worth, fear, love for their children, family expectations and experiences, financial constraints and isolation.
4. 3 Effect of GBV on survivors
Table 4. Effects GBV to survivors
Effects caused the GBV incidences
|
|
Mental illness
|
Physical harm
|
Stigma & discrimination
|
Medical side effects
|
Imposed psychological torture on the children
|
Stress and distress
|
Suicidal
|
100%
|
37%
|
81%
|
81%
|
81%
|
100%
|
Whereby, % = percentage number a response was shared by study respondents
|
Source: Primary data 2022
Mental health issues, mainly Stress and distress, as effects of GBV incidences were shared by all the study’s survivors.
Eg survivor 2: …I have a lot of thoughts. Even sometimes I be there and start seeing those men who killed my husband and rapped me for a whole week. I sometimes see them coming to rape me again. Such could result into more complicated mental health issues and disorders like post-traumatic stress (PTSD) (Liang, et al., 2020).
This particular finding is backed by (Smith, et al., 2018) who report, GBV is associated with chronic psychological problems. However, their report conducted in USA and outside emergencies. Also, the study of (Muluneh, Stulz , Francis , & Agho, 2020) found depressive symptoms predominant among female GBV survivors in sub-Saharan Africa. Their works are also were not done in emergencies.
Imposed psychological torture on children, from secondary/indirect exposure or witnessing GBV in their families, was shared by all the survivors in this study.
For example, survivor 11 responds: …And now you see these things of fighting, they also affect the children. My children tell me that if they go to school, they cannot concentrate... Such torture can grow into complex mental health issues like suicidal attempts (Oberg, et al., 2021) by such children.
This is backed up by the works of (SOTO, LEONHARDT, ALONSO, & SERRANO, 2019) who put forward those children are victims of GBV, especially, when the violence is on their mothers, even though, the children are not physically/ or directly abused, Children of victims are still victims of such torture.
Suicidal thoughts, due to GBV, was mentioned by more than a quarter of the study’s survivors.
For instance, Survivor17: ..because of these problems of my man, sometimes I feel like swallowing all my HIV drugs at once, so that I can die..
The sturdy by (Kosgei, Mageto, & Wagoro, 2021) also revealed the existence of suicidal thoughts as a result of GBV in women. Although, their study was conducted in Kenya and outside refugee settings.
Physical harm was shared by the majority of the study’s survivors.
Eg Survivor12: ….beating me! that one I got used to the beatings. He beat me heavily with pole and broke my hand. He beat me and broke my hand. He also beat on the chest and I started breathing rapidly…. Physical injuries negatively affect one’s quality of life (Schoene, et al., 2019).
This result is supported by the publication of (Falschung, 2018), which puts forward that GBV physically harms survivors.
Stigma or and discrimination, after the GBV incidence, was shared by the majority of the this study’s respondents.
For instance Survivor13: ..the neighbors when they get to hear that we are fighting. For them, they laugh at us. But I just being strong like that. However, stigma and discrimination due to GBV, forces some GBV survivors to keep silent and not seek help (Leibling, Barret, & Artz, 2020).
This finding also, gets it striking from the works of (Kosgei, Mageto, & Wagoro, 2021), whose research found stigma to be an outcome of GBV. Although their research was conducted in Kenya and outside emergencies.
Medical side effects, due to GBV, was shared by most of the study’s survivors.
Eg survivor 2 …. They (rapists) took me to the forest and started using for a whole week … I got pregnant...
This is backed by the research of (Beyene, Chojenta, & Loxton, 2021) whose findings show that females get several health complications; swelling of the genitalia, unusual virginal discharge, injury around the genitalia, etc, out of GBV. However, their study was conducted in Ethiopia and outside emergencies.
The above findings and discussions, therefore, imply that GBV negatively affected survivors in the settlement. This negatively affects their lives (Rapanyane, 2021).
4.5 Reporting mechanisms of GBV.
Table 5. Reporting mechanism of GBV
Reported
|
Yes
|
No (silence on GBV)
|
Helped after reporting
|
Reason for silence
|
Yes
|
No
|
Fear of intensifying the violence
|
Advice from people
|
|
56%
|
87%
|
31%
|
6%
|
|
63%
|
37%
|
|
Whereby, % = percentage of how often a response was shared
|
|
Source: Primary data 2022
4.5.1 The reporting of GBV incidences, was shared by more than half of the the study’s survivors.
E.g. Survivor 13: …the repotting I report to the chairmen...
However, the majority of survivors claim to have not been helped even after reporting.
This is backed by the finding of (Muluneh, Stulz , Francis , & Agho, 2020) who share that some victims are hesitant to report due to lack of law enforcement actions, bye those whom they report to. The works of (Beyene, Chojenta, & Loxton, 2021) also bring forward that GBV victims keep silent, as they fear their perpetrators. However, all these prior studies were conducted outside Uganda and emergency communities.
4.5.2 Silence of the GBV incidences was, shared by less than half of the study’s survivors. Eg Survivor 5: I have a church.. and sometimes they teach us that whenever we get problems, we don’t need to tell everyone. Like some problems in the home, we need to solve them by ourselves like we keep them secrets with ourselves.. The silence was largely attributed to, fear of making the perpetrators more violent or revenging, whereas, the silence was found to have been minimally fuelled by the advice from fellow friends. However, it should be noted that silence fuels GBV and should be broken (Salceda, Vidu, Aubert, & Roca, 2020).
This is back-up by the works of (Muluneh, Stulz , Francis , & Agho, 2020), whose findings are that women in sub-Saharan Africa, don’t report violence due to: fear of stigma and shame: fear of revenge by the perpetrator and attitude surrounding GBV. Although this prior research lacks a focus on Ugandan emergencies.
Help suggested by GBV survivors
Table 6. . Help suggested by survivors
Counselling
|
Economic support
|
Medical support
|
Reallocation and separation from perpetrators
|
37%
|
56%
|
31%
|
37%
|
Whereby, % = percentage of how often the response was shared
|
Source: Primary data 2022
Economic support was mentioned by the majority of the study’s respondents. This was mainly for feeding and school fees.
E.g. Suvivor12: … the help I really need, is like getting school fees of the children. Because when they spend the whole day without food and then the go to sleep on empty stomachs. I don’t sleep. I stay wake all night…
Simillar research in Ugandan refugee camps puts forward that GBV is curtailed by poverty and ensuing availability of household basics needs is one of the preventative ways (Kwiringira, et al., 2018). This prior research is, however, a sematic review.
The need for counselling was shared by a quarter of the study’s respondents.
E.g. survivor 11: … me I think counselling can help. Because i think when we are counselled. At least we pick something from it…
This is backed by the works of (Leibling, Barret, & Artz, 2020) who put forward that, GBV survivors in the refugee settlements need emotional support of counselling. The shortfall with this is that it focused on only refugees in Northern Uganda, ignoring South Western Uganda.
Being re-allocated and being separated from their perpetrators, was suggested by quatre of the study’s survivors.
E.g. Survivor 9: me the help I need maybe they can take me abroad, maybe I can rest with my children. No prior research was found on this specific finding.
The need for medical support was the least mentioned by the survivors in our study.
Eg as responded by survivor16: …because of what I am going through, I think is better maybe if I get treatment. And I think it is better if they remove the uterus because I think I will not give birth again. So since like to remain like this, suffering like this, for me to remain like this, I think they should remove it. That is what I think they should do for me to at least to get some peace. It should be noted that good healthcare systems are very important in the sense that they provide supportive care to GBV survivors (Moreno, et al., 2015).
This finding is backed up by the study of (Strasser, Kim , Studzinsky, & Taing, 2015) who present that one of the reasons why the GBV survivors spoke up and went to court was, seeking physical and mental healing. The shortfall with their study is that it was conducted in Cambodia.
What happened to perpetrators?
Table 7. What was done to perpetrators
Arrested and persecuted
|
Arrested but let free
|
Never arrested
|
6%
|
37%
|
81%
|
Where by, % = percentage of how often a response was shared
|
Source: Primary data 2022
4.7.1 Perpetrators not being arrested, was shared by the majority of the study’s survivors.
E.g. …they ran and only one person, came this side… Leaving the perpetrators to walk away, forces some of the GBV victims to keep silent (Muluneh, Stulz , Francis , & Agho, 2020).
This is backed by the works of (Muluneh, Stulz , Francis , & Agho, 2020) who shared, there is a lack of law enforcement action by the responsible authority unto whom the GBV is reported (Muluneh, Stulz , Francis , & Agho, 2020).
Perpetrators being arrested but let free, was shared by a quarter of the survivors in our study.
E.g. Survivor 1: … I have heard that those people (perpetrators) some of them have been put in prison, but a few moments pass, they are seen again in the communities..
This is supported by the works of (Mutegeki, 2022) who put forward that sometimes in Uganda, the police collude and are bribed by the perpetrators resulting in just releasing the perpetrators.
Perpetrators being arrested and charged was least mentioned.
E.g. survivor 9 … they were four one was arrested and killed. Then other three they ran..
The study of (Leibling, Barret, & Artz, 2020) shares that the criminal justice systems, in the Ugandan settlements have failed to provide adequate justice systems to the GBV survivors. Although research was not in southwestern.
The above findings and discussions, therefore, mean that even if there is an effort, to arrest and charge the perpetrators, some perpetrators are left to go freely in the settlement.
Survivors’ wish for perpetrators
Table 8. Survivors’ wish for perpetrators.
Arrest and imprisonment
|
Killed
|
Forgiven
|
Education and warning about the dangers of GBV
|
|
|
|
|
43%
|
18%
|
0%
|
50%
|
|
Whereby, % = percentage of how often a response was shared by study respondents
|
|
Source: Primary data 2022
4.8.1 Educating and warning the perpetrators about the dangers of GBV, was mentioned by half of the survivors in this study.
E.g. Survivor10: ..what you see, most of the time, you see that there are no teachings in our village. To say that sometimes they can listed to. In case they(perpetrators) can be educated, then. Such things can reduce.. This helps to change the violent behaviours of the perpetrators (Belay, 2013).
This gets its striking from the works of (Mogotsi, et al., 2015) who put forward that not all the survivors, who report want the perpetrators arrested, instead most want him to be warned about the dangers of GBV. However, this prior research was conducted in Namibia.
4.8.3 Arresting and imprisonment of the perpetrators, was mentioned by a quarter of the survivors in this study.
For Example, as talked by survivor 1: ..those people (perpetrators) should be punished and even imprisoned…. No prior research was found on this.
4.8.4 Killing of the perpetrators, was said by less than a quarter of the survivors in this study.
E.g. Survivor2. …I think they should be arrested or killed. Me I feel they need to be killed… No prior research was found out in this.
4.8.4 Forgiving perpetrators free, was not mentioned by any of the survivors of this study. No prior research was found out on this..
The above particular findings imply that situation needs to change. Although, the situation will not change until the GBV survivors and victims are helped (Mutegeki, 2022).