By Norbert Mao
Local Leaders in Gulu District have called for stronger efforts to ensure justice and protection for women and girls as the district joined the rest of the country to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The celebrations, held yesterday, Tuesday, March 10th at Paibona Primary School in Paibona Sub-county in Gulu district brought together pupils, students, elders, and community leaders, with several activities and traditional dances performed to mark the occasion.
The event was held under the theme, “Scaling up investments to accelerate access to justice for all women and girls in Uganda.”
While officiating the function, the Gulu District Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Cosmas James Okidi, emphasized the need to strengthen the protection of women and girls against abuse and injustice noting that the government of Uganda has introduced a number of policies and interventions aimed at empowering women and ensuring their rights are protected.
Okidi warned that individuals who violate the rights of women and girls will face legal penalties, urging communities to support efforts that promote justice and equality and also called on women to take advantage of government programs such as Parish Development Model, PDM, Emyooga among others that support their economic empowerment.
The celebrations also featured cultural performances by pupils, students, and elders showcasing Acholi traditional dances, highlighting the role of culture in promoting unity and respect within communities.
According to the 2025 report by International Justice Mission, nearly 6 in 10 children, mostly girls, have experienced sexual abuse while over 50% of women who have ever had a partner have faced violence at the hands of their partners and over 70% of incidences of physical and sexual violence against women go unreported
