Resorting to Islamic teachings urging protection of women and children rights, Ugandan officials have called on Muslim scholars to spread a message of gender equality to curb domestic violence in southern Uganda’s Busoga region.
“Gender based Violence cases are ranked high in Busoga sub region,” Joshua Kitakule, the Secretary General of the Inter Religious Council (IRC), told New Vision newspaper on Tuesday, August 28.
“So it is the religious leaders to take on with the opportunity of training their followers the dangers accrued to the vice so that it is reduced in the region.”
Kitakule made the call during a two-day training for senior Muslim religious leaders in Busoga sub region in Bugiri district on Saturday.
He urged Muslim scholars to advise followers to be kind and considerate to their wives in their homes.
“A lot of women and men seek assistance in domestic violence cases at Police, NGOs and local leaders like village L.C chairpersons,” Kitakule said.
“But it is your duty as Muslim leaders to encourage them to work as a team between husband and wife in their various homes in order to build a good family despite one’s religion.”
Scholars were also urged to encourage parents to inculcate discipline into their children at home right from childhood until they are grown up.
“Uganda will soon celebrate 50 years of existence so things you do must show that you are elders and respectable in your homes,” Kitakule said. New Techniques
Offering Muslim scholars a testing and counseling session, secretary of the Inter Religious Council called for applying new trends in counseling.
“Catholic priests are preaching against domestic violence at mass, and the Church of uganda has also spoken out against abuse,” Kitakule said, insisting that religious leaders have more sway on people than civil societies.
Ugandan muslims comprise some 14 percent of the predominantly Christian country's 32-million population, according to the CIA Factbook.
In Islam, marriage is a sacred bond that brings together a man and a woman by virtue of the teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
Each partner in this sacred relationship must treat the other properly and with respect.
Woman is recognized by Islam as the full and equal partner of the man in the procreation of humankind.
By this partnership, she has an equal share in every aspect. She is entitled to equal rights, she undertakes equal responsibilities, and she has as many qualities and as much humanity as her partner.
Moreover, the relations between the spouses in Islam should be based on tranquility, love and mercy.