FAMILY MEN ROLE MODELS REUNITE SEPARATED COUPLE

Mr. Ochola Alfred and Adoch Lilly of Gwengdiya have been married for six years. Ochola however is a reknown drunkard and wife barterer in the village. Ochola often abuses and barters his wife Adoch when she fails to serve him meat from the 2000shs he leaves behind for meals, and for also “failing” to give him a male child. Ochola and Adoch have two girl children, whose education Ochola has refused to support.  

This had been the life of Ochola and Adoch until December 2013 when Adoch got tired of being abused and hit back at Ochola. Adoch beat Ochola thoroughly in the presence of their neighbors and friends. Embarrassed, Ochola chased his wife and children out of his compound asserting that no one tells him to do in his home.

Although Ochola and Adoch’s marital issues had been heard by the Local Council 1 Committee several times, the leaders and elders were particularly disturbed this time that Adoch was being forced out of her marital home and that the children’s schooling was being disorganized.  In the bid to put an end to this domestic violence, the leaders and elders of Gwengdiya village sought the help of men role models. These are family men known to have stable marriages and have significantly been helping other couples in settling their marital differences. 

The men role models reached out to Ochola who however dodged them several times before they finally got hold of him and shared about his situation. Mr. Okwera Geoffrey, Chairperson of the men role models shared his own experience with Ochola and also counseled him. Geoffrey mentioned that having realized the benefits of living in a domestic violence free home, he chose to join the Gulu Women Economic Development&-Globalization (GWED-G) team of advocates for women rights.  Ochola

A happy  Adoch carrying water to her home

chose to change and also joined the community counseling and dialogue sessions that have since helped him realize the importance of family. 

  Since then, Ochola now testifies to the community about the benefits he received from the men role models counseling and dialogue sessions which enabled him to reconcile with his wife and children. Ochola and Adoch have reconciled and are now living a happy life. Ochola is also a member of the men role model group. 

Ochola sharing his testimony with GWED-G staff

PEER EDUCATORS RESTORE BROKEN FAMILY

According to Mrs. Akuguzibwe Phiona a peer educator in Kanshenyi Village, Rukondo Parish, Nyakishana Sub County, alcohol drinking has become a lifestyle in Buhweju district. Men and women spend hours in local bars drinking from morning to evening. Accordingly, the men start their beer parties as early as 8:00am with no regard to work. Only to return home in the evenings, demanding for food from their wives. Failure to provide this food or any complaints about a man’s drinking habit only earns the woman a beating or even being chased from the home. So is the life in Buhweju district.

Bihererrahi Savino of Akakombe Trading Centre is one of the men that had been living such a life style until Community Awareness and Response on Aids (CARA) with support from IDF intervened into his appalling family situation. Savino sold 90% of his land and drunk the money. He also chased his wife away because she had refused to sign on the land sale agreement. He swore never to bring her back to his home ever again. In the absence of their mother Savino married off his two daughters at 15 years each. He additionally refused to send any of his children to school claiming he had no money.

One day three peer educators of the area Kaboneire Davidic, Akuguzibwe Phiona and Adrine went to visit Savino about the matter. They educated him about women and children rights and also prayed with him. Savino repented his bad ways and promised to be a better man. First he went and brought back his wife and also promised to stop drinking and to send his children to school. The couple is now living happily and their last born is in school at Katiba Primary School.