Protection of the right to freedom from violence and abuse of women with disabilities in Uganda: a case of Rukungiri municipality

Abstract

This study, titled "Protection of the Right to Freedom from Violence and Abuse of Women with Disabilities in Uganda: A Case of Rukungiri Municipality," investigates the nature, impact, and institutional responses to violence against women with disabilities in a rural Ugandan setting. Guided by Martha Nussbaum’s Capability Approach, the research explores how violence undermines fundamental human capabilities such as bodily integrity, emotional well-being, and personal autonomy, which are essential for a life of dignity. The study was structured around four objectives: to describe the experiences and forms of violence and abuse faced by women with disabilities; to evaluate the impact of such violence; to assess the effectiveness of existing policy and institutional frameworks; and to examine the strategies employed to protect the rights of these women. A qualitative case study design was employed, utilizing key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and document reviews. Participants included women with disabilities, political leaders, civil servants, and civil society actors in Rukungiri Municipality. The findings reveal that women with disabilities are subjected to pervasive physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse, often within their own homes and communities. The impact of this violence is profound, resulting in trauma, social isolation, loss of livelihood, and diminished agency. While Uganda has established several progressive legal and policy frameworks aimed at protecting persons with disabilities, the study found that these instruments are inadequately enforced and poorly implemented at the local level. Institutional responses are characterized by fragmentation, lack of training, insufficient resources, and limited accessibility. Existing protection strategies, mostly led by civil society, remain underfunded, informal, and disconnected from government systems. The study concludes that the persistent abuse of women with disabilities in Rukungiri reflects a failure of both social and institutional systems to guarantee their fundamental rights and capabilities. It recommends targeted policy reforms, capacity-building for local institutions, disability- inclusive service delivery, and greater investment in community-based protection mechanisms. The research contributes to the broader discourse on disability rights and gender-based violence in low-income settings and calls for urgent action to ensure that no woman is left behind in the struggle for justice, dignity, and inclusion.