WAGRAU Warns of Rising Violence Against Women and Girls Causing Panic in Serere District

Women and Girls Rights Advocacy- Uganda (WAGRAU) has warned that the increasing cases of violence meted on girls and women is causing panic among the residents in the eastern Uganda district of Serere.

WAGRAU say they have documented the killing of at least four females by their estranged lovers in a period of about one month in the district.

Deborah Akello, Executive Director for Women and Girls Rights Advocacy- Uganda (WAGRAU), a community based organization operating in Serere district told the press today that issues of break-up violence need urgent attention to help the girl-child and women to enjoy their rights in families.

Akello noted that since January 21- May 31, 2024, statistics from Serere HC1V alone indicate that 77 females were sexually assaulted while another 137 suffered physical violence during the period in review.

She notes that some of the girls were gang raped while others are still recovering from the trauma.

The LC1 Chairman of Ojama village, Emmanuel Ojango admitted that his people are now living in fear since the attack on a student. “Some people have abandoned their homes because of fear,’ he said.

“Whenever any new faces surface here, people are thrown into panic. This isn’t good because such anxiety might cost lives of innocent people visiting the area. Recently, some residents saw a group of people in the village and this caused unrest. I had to call for the security meeting to help calm down the situation,” he revealed.

Those reported killed are Scovia Apio, 18, student of Homeword Secondary School in Ochaapa Town Council and Joyce Mary Ilolu, 16, a pupil of Idupa Primary School in Olio Sub County. The duo was killed on two separate incidents June 12 and July 12, 2024 respectively by suspected lovers.

Also killed was Betty Inangolet, 40, who was allegedly killed by her ex-husband, Jimmy Nsereko, at Aturia Village in Kagwara Town Council on June 23, 2024.

Inangolet had separated with Nsereko for more than a year when he reportedly followed and assaulted her leading to death. Like Inangolet, the two students also met their deaths after reportedly severing ties with their lovers.

Information on the ground indicates that Scovia Apio and Joyce Mary Ilolu were allegedly killed by their boyfriends. Although two suspects were arrested by the police, one has been released after spending two weeks in police custody.

The freed suspect had been arrested in Kapelebyong district and returned to Serere district on June 14, 2024. His arrest followed investigative leads that connected him to the scene of crime. But after the police interrogations of the suspect, he was released on July 3, 2024 from Serere Central Police Station. This has left the family in pain as their hopes for justice have diminished.

It’s reported that the on the fateful night of the killing of Apio, her brother, Tom Osako tried to get hold of the suspect but the suspect reportedly managed to escape. It is from Osako’s description of the suspect that the police were able to arrest the suspect from Kapelebyong.

On July 3, 2024, an old woman Anne Mary Akello was strangled to death in her in Kidetok Town Council over the Social Assistance Grant Empowerment (SAGE) cash that she received from the government. On the day of her attack, other two women were survived death by similar groups who were combing the area.

Hellen Ipiya, the mother of the deceased says that the release of the suspect shows that her daughter won’t receive any justice. “This government doesn’t care about the poor people,” she said with uncontrollable tears rolling down her cheeks.  “We’re left grieving when the person responsible for my daughter’s death is out there, enjoying life. That man had been threatening my daughter verbally and on phone but nobody is willing to give attention to such detail. I am in pain but I pray that God intervenes in this situation.”

The East Kyoga Regional Police Spokesman, Edison Obukulem says that the security situation in Serere is being handled as security agencies are intensifying intelligence gathering and deployment. He notes that a file of Scovia Apio is being reviewed at the regional police headquarters after receiving complaints from the family.