KAMPALA, Uganda – The incoming Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lino Anguzu, has pledged to work with all relevant stakeholders to combat the escalating cases of gender-based violence (GBV), which continue to break families with impunity.
He made the remarks on 20th November 2025 while officiating at the launch of the 16 Days of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Activism Campaign at City Square. The event began with an awareness march through the streets of Kampala to show solidarity with victims and to lobby for political support in ending SGBV crimes.
The colorful function brought together NGOs and civil society organizations (CSOs) advocating for the elimination of SGBV within communities. They collectively appealed to the government, through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to conduct community awareness campaigns capable of effectively reducing violence in households and communities.
Anguzu expressed deep concern over the public’s poor perception of justice actors in the country, noting that new synergies must be built to restore confidence in institutions such as the DPP’s office, the Police, and the Judiciary. He emphasized that improved trust would encourage the public to freely report SGBV cases to the police without fear of retaliation from perpetrators.
He thanked the International Justice Mission Uganda (IJM), among other NGOs, for closely collaborating with his office in efforts to fight SGBV through sensitization campaigns. He pledged to further strengthen these engagement mechanisms to reach more areas, especially rural communities where such cases are rampant and often go unreported.
Anguzu also raised concern about the high prevalence of SGBV among children with disabilities (PWDs), noting that the rate stands at a disturbing 68%. He explained that many are deceptively recruited under the guise of offering help, only to be lured into forced sexual exploitation, which destroys their future. He warned that perpetrators will face severe punishment once brought before the courts of law, describing them as a menace to society.
He further cautioned young girls and women to be mindful of what they eat at public functions such as parties, as they may be targeted with drug-laced snacks meant to intoxicate them, creating opportunities for sexual predators.
Hon. Lady Justice Margaret Mutonyi of the Family Division of the High Court encouraged civil society members to work closely with the Judiciary to ensure communities receive messages of peace, reconciliation, and family harmony, contributing to violence-free homes.
More than 80 participants received printed materials containing messages against SGBV and encouraging the public to report any suspected cases to the nearest police station for legal action.
In return, participants expressed appreciation to the Office of the DPP for creating an opportunity to engage directly with the DPP and his senior staff, who shared insights on how best to tackle the burden of SGBV.
