By Leonard Mukooli
The FGM activists in Sebei sub region have asked government and local leaders in the Karamoja, Sebei sub region to address the cross border movements as they try to curb the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Uganda.
Chelengat Gloria FGM activists with action aid in Sebei made the call while delivering speech on behalf of the girls that under go the FGM in Sebei sub region in Kapchorwa municipality.
She said that government must adress porous border that are leading increased cases of crosss border FGM in Sebei, adding that there must be Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) at Lemusui, Moruita Sub-county,in Nakapiriprit District and Sebei region.
She said that previously FGM was not practiced in Uganda, but due to the cross border movements, it was adopted by the communities on the Ugandan side. She added that despite the efforts to curb it in Uganda, girls are sent to Kenya where they are circumcised due to the open and porous borders.
Peace Mutuzo the state minister for gender said that Female circumcision was not part of our culture but it was imported from Kenya.
Mutuzo commended the local surgeons who gave up the practice and promised to support them in other income generating activities.
Mutuzo urged the community leaders and the locals to fight those who still believe in the inhuman act,adding that FGM had Led to very mothers get disabled, paralysed while others dead.
Mutuzo also noted that government is going put in place new FGM laws that will even those that aid cross border FGM and those that criss cross into Kenya to get mutilated and come back punished.
She noted that practicing FGM is also affecting development since investors that are interested in setting up developments in Sebei are scared that in future their children or wives could be lured into the act
Action AID Representative Shiba coordinator ACTION aid Uganda Sebei region noted that, if no serious action is taken, 54 million girls could be subjected to FGM by 2030.
She added that over 200 million girls and women have experienced Female Genital Mutilation in 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
During the same function she also advocated for more social services, especially in the education sector to keep girls at school.
Joseph Musobo clan leaders said that once the young girls are circumcised, they drop out of school leading to high rates of child marriages in the region.
He also acknowledged the health challenges in the hard to reach areas of constituency and urged the government and other well-wishers to intervene by supporting girl child education if the FGM is to be fought to zero.
He also reiterated that women develop birth complications due to the effects of FGM.
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