Police in Bukedea district in eastern Uganda say cases of domestic violence have increased because of food shortages there. Over the past two months, both the police and local council authorities have recorded a sharp rise in cases of domestic violence.
Juma Akol, the LC1 Secretary for Defense in Kide Ward in Bukedea town, says quarrels between married couples are often over the lack of food for the family. He says that with no money for the little expensive food available, many men are drowning their sorrows in alcohol.
The result is bitter fights.
Akol gives an example of a man in his village, whom he only identifies as Odongo, who recently suffered the wrath of his wife for going off to drink instead of buying food for his family.
In a separate incident Betty Amisi, a Special Police Constable attached to Bukedea Central Police Station, nearly killed her husband for failing to provide food for his family.
Witnesses to the incident on Tuesday afternoon, say Constable Amisi's husband Jude Osekenye, who is an LC3 councilor in Bukedea town, returned home at about 2 p.m. Amisi accused Osekenye of spending all of his money on alcohol and abandoning his starving children.
Osekenye made light of the decision, asking Constable Amisi why she did not get
