The Women of Uganda Network has urged the government to fight the use of the advanced Information and Communication Technology to perpetuate violence against women in Uganda.

Dr. Dorothy Okello, the Coordinator of WOUGNET

Though the use of advanced ICT in Uganda which can mainly be witnessed in the huge increase of mobile phone users in the country has increased levels of communication and levels of employment for Ugandans, there have been abused by some people like those that use ICT to perpetuate violence against women.

For example men use phones call and send threatening messages to their spouses which leaves them psychologically tortured, while some men haunt women with calls and sms threats.

WOUGNET has said in its policy brief on ICT and Violence Against Women  that cases of violence perpetuated by ICT facilities especially mobile phones is a growing phenomenon and the government should find a solution to such a growing problem.

WOUGNET says however it is disappointed that there is less discussion of the link between mobile telephone, internet usage and violence among companies, the government and development agencies since they want push for the adoption and usage of the ICTs without looking at their negative aspects.

The organisation says it cannot blame the government and other stakeholders for pushing for the adoption of telephone and internet usage since they are needed by women and girls in today’s competitive world, but the government should ensure that it finds ways through discussions how to avert the abuse of mobile phone and internet usage.

WOUGNET says though there are indications that government has made strides to overcome challenges of Violence Against Women, there is no clear strategy of curbing violence perpetrated by ICTs.

By Zakaria Tiberindwa, Ultimate Media