Meet Watetwa, a mother of 4 girls, parenting through gender-based violence.

My name is Watetwa. I am only 33, but many people think I am older. I wake up every day hoping that one day, my husband will look at me and smile. Just a smile and appreciation for me would make me happy. But that is more like a dream.

My husband is very short-tempered. If there is any slight issue, he erupts and pounces on me. When he drinks alcohol, he even beats our daughters. He shouts and calls us names. He says he is tired of a house full of women.

His main issue is that I failed to give him a boy. He then decided that until I give birth to a boy, he is never going to buy food, pay rent, or provide medical care and school feed for our children because they are all girls and other men will take them away, so why does he have to care for them.

Our children love their father and try to please him, but I do not know what’s wrong with him. If you ask for money, even if it is very little, he will shout, kick or slap you. We live in a very congested area, and everyone knows what is happening to us. Women tell me to leave him, but where do I go with four young children?

Amref Health Africa in Uganda came to my rescue by training me to earn an income from something I can do at home. I received training in craft-making, and I got a small loan from the women’s group I am a member of, supported by Amref, to start selling vegetables from my verandah at home. This has helped me provide food for the children and other basic needs.

Our Village Health Team (VHT) member helped me receive treatment from the government health facility after my husband beat me so hard that my entire face swelled up. The VHT has also started talking to my husband.

My children look forward to returning to school after the lockdown so they can be away from home during the day. I am saving every coin to ensure they will be back once school opens. There, at least, they are protected from him during school hours.

Story by Amref Uganda, 2021

Photo of Amref Uganda staff member Stiwart counseling Watetwa. Photo Credit: Ambrose Watanda.