By Bbatume George
Breaking the Silence: How Sexual Violence in Uganda Is Driving School Dropouts—and How We Can Change That
In Uganda, deeply rooted cultural norms and entrenched gender inequalities are fueling a cycle that too often ends with girls and young women being forced out of school. Sexual violence—ranging from coercion and defilement to pervasive school-based harassment—not only violates the rights of survivors but also sets many on a path that cuts short their education, their potential, and their future.
The Reality—In Numbers
The 2018 Violence Against Children Survey (VACS) paints a stark picture: one in three girls and one in six boys experience sexual violence during childhood; one in ten girls suffer rape, and one in five report that their first sexual experience was forced or pressured. National demographic data from 2020 shows even more troubling patterns—36 percent of women experienced sexual violence, often from partners, and nearly 59 percent of women report sexual abuse in childhood.
While the figures alarm, they only hint at the much larger shadow of underreporting, driven by survivor stigma, victim blaming, and fear of retribution. Indeed, the vicious cycle of stigma often silences survivors and prevents access to justice, perpetuating both violence and its harmful impacts.
Dropping Out—not by Choice, but by Force
Sexual violence has devastating consequences for survivors’ mental and physical health, but the educational fallout is particularly destructive. Teenage pregnancy—often the result of sexual violence or coercion—is a key driver of dropout rates. Uganda recorded a sharp increase in teenage births—378,790—by March 2022, with school dropouts surging in tandem.
In regions like West Nile, foundational challenges—from lack of sanitation to predatory teacher behavior—also force girls out. A primary school girl shared that male teachers demanding sex in exchange for marks had become a heartbreaking reality. Completion rates are staggering; only 12 percent of girls in Yumbe complete Primary Seven, compared to significantly higher male completion rates.
The COVID-19 pandemic deepened these inequalities. School closures exposed girls to heightened risk—where parental absence, economic desperation, and broken social safety nets created painful vulnerabilities that translated into early marriages, teenage pregnancies, and dropouts.
Currency of the Past—Cultural Norms That Hurt
Much of this tragedy is underpinned by outdated cultural norms that condone violence and silence its victims. In some communities, harmful norms persist: some believe it’s acceptable for a man to beat a wife, or that a girl’s reporting of violence is disrespectful. Victim blaming remains pervasive—survivors are shamed for their clothing or behavior, blamed for inviting assault, even when the truth is otherwise.
These norms reinforce a harmful ecosystem where survivors lose their voice, their education, and often, belief in their own strength.
Pathways to Hope: Education, Engagement, and Equality
Despite the challenges, there are bright signs of resistance and renewal:
Community Awareness Campaigns: Programs led by Utunzaji Foundation Uganda have helped return teenage mothers to school and provided life skills training to thousands of adolescents across several regions.
Engaging Men and Boys: Utunzaji Foundation Uganda is also working with men and boys to reshape harmful masculine norms, encouraging them to be protectors rather than perpetrators. Transforming gender norms is not just about empowering girls—it’s about engaging the whole community.
School-Based Interventions: Through classroom tools, mentorship programs, and peer-to-peer engagement, Utunzaji Foundation Uganda has partnered with schools to create safer and more inclusive environments, reducing incidences of sexual harassment and building support systems for girls.
Legal and Policy Advocacy: At the national level, Utunzaji Foundation Uganda is advocating for stronger enforcement of child protection laws, better survivor support services, and the inclusion of comprehensive sexuality education in the national curriculum.
A Call to Action—Enlightening Communities, Empowering Futures
It’s time to challenge the beliefs that bind us to our past. We must:
Break the silence around sexual violence—so that no longer the shame is placed on survivors.
Educate communities to reject harmful stereotypes and victim blaming.
Advocate alongside survivors to strengthen laws and enforce protections.
Support schools in becoming not just places of learning, but safe refuges.
Champion girls’ education—and the understanding that investing in a girl is investing in Uganda’s future.
We owe every survivor the chance to finish school, to dream freely, and to build a life based on dignity, not defeat.
Let us all, collectively—families, leaders, educators, community members—rise to this challenge. When we enlighten our communities, we do more than change a mindset; we reshape destinies.
Word count: ~800
Author: Bbatume George
