The Alur King, Phillip Olarker Rauni III has warned men to desist from barbaric cultural beliefs of mistreating their spouses for producing single-sex children, especially girls.
The warning is in response to a petition by some women to the Alur Kingdom early this month to put in place stringent measures against the widespread mistreatment of women by their spouses for producing single-sex children, something they say is violating their rights as women.
Olarker wants his subjects, especially men, to stop the unfavourable cultural practices such as the marginalization of women for producing single-sex children and denying them a chance to own land noting that such Practices deprive women of their rights and dignity.
Jane Angala, a resident of Paidha town council in Zombo district, told Uganda Radio Network that a number of female spouses in her area are being marginalized for constantly producing girls against the interest of their husbands.
Lucy Anyeko, a resident of Lower Hospital quarters in Nebbi municipality recalls how she was divorced by her spouse after producing three girls consecutively. Anyeko appeals to parents to treat all children equally regardless of their sex.
Colleens Pimer, the newly sworn-in Minister of Gender in the Alur Kingdom has committed to take a keen interest in the promotion of the rights of women and girls. Primer says that her priority will be to champion the promotion of the rights of women, especially advocating for land rights for women.
Baifa Wanican, the in charge of the Child and Family Protection Unit at Nebbi Police Station noted that the mistreatment of women by their male spouses for producing only girls is one of the untold stories of domestic violence among the Alur. She says that they have since initiated a community sensitization campaign to empower women and men in order to stop gender bias.
Since his enthronement as Alur King, 12 years ago, Phillip Olarker Rauni III, has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at promoting women’s rights. For instance, in 2015, the Alur king made a pronouncement on the promotion of women’s rights on land and designed a program with ActionAid-Uganda to among others create awareness about the role of women in agriculture and offer a platform for women to own land.
Article 33 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides that women have rights equal to men in areas including political, economic, and social activities, and laws, customs, traditions, and cultures that are “against the dignity of women” are prohibited by the Constitution.Alur King Warns Against Mistreating Women for Producing Only Girls