Testimonies
These are some of the testimonies from some of SAPs stake holders and clients
‘Through SAP I have been able to stay in our matrimonial home after my husband threatened to chase me out after getting another wife. SAP referred me to the Child and Family Court (CFPC) where it was ruled that I remain in the home. The husband now looks after me and I stay in the matrimonial home’- Client from Nakulabye
‘As a human rights advocate I’m now able to intervene and counsel men and women who have domestic misunderstandings. This has earned me respect’ - SAP trained Human Rights Advocate
‘Through SAP training, and the work I was involved in of promoting observance of human rights and reducing domestic violence, when I stood for local council elections I got overwhelming support’ - LC I Chairman Katwe
‘As a trained community volunteer I have improved communication with my spouse, this has helped us to keep in harmony’.
- SAP Community Volunteer Naguru
‘SAP helped my mother who was abandoned by my father following allegations that she (mother) had infected him with HIV. SAP helped her to set up a water tap, charcoal business to assist in looking after me and 5 other siblings. After she died, SAP has continued to cater for my school fees. They still look after me as their own daughter’.
- Child supported by SAP
‘The loan scheme has enabled me to expand my business of selling bananas in the market. I can now supplement what my husband earns to send our children to school.’- Income Generating Activity- Beneficiary (Katwe)
‘Working as a community Volunteer, has made me learn to recognize domestic violence cases within my area, cases such as child neglect and physical assault. Before the SAP training, people would say “eby’omunju te bitotolwa” (household issues are private). I have learnt that human rights should be respected regardless of where someone leaves and thus continuously speaking out.
- SAP trained human Right Advocate
A 22 year old lady said ‘I was impregnated by my spouse and neglected. When I told him that I was going to report him, he threatened me by saying that he would bribe the officers and they set him free. I was directed to SAP offices by a Community Volunteer to report my case. We summoned and later counseled and my spouse provides some financial assistance that is delivered and I collect it from the SAP secretariat.’ - SAP client
‘I came to know about SAP through a friend who informed me that SAP was involved in fighting human rights abuses and sensitizing people on HIV/AIDS. Consequently I was trained as a paralegal and a Key Community Volunteer. I have been able to assist, counsel families having domestic misunderstandings. This has been through discussions and home visits to the affected families. I have also distributed condoms to help in reducing unwanted pregnancies and HIV infections’. -
Namiiro Jane (Trained Community Volunteer, Paralegal) Kimawnyi Wandegeya Parish
‘My husband who is a taxi driver never used to leave money for food, and would stay away for several days without coming back. Whenever I asked him he could not answer me but would start beating me.
‘Twali tulwananyo ate nga tetulina kyakulya’. Meaning we would always fight when I requested money for food.
I approached a SAP volunteer who offered me accommodation and food for a week when my husband chased me away. Later she talked to us separately. The husband accepted me back and started looking after our three children. I can say that after the volunteer’s intervention, communication and the relationship with my spouse has improved’. - Namale Sarah aged 29 of Wandegeya Parish
‘I had a poor relationship with my sister in law. She would falsely accuse me of going out with other men and this affected my relationship with my spouse. He even stopped talking to me because of the rumors. I approached a Human Rights Advocate who talked to my sister in law about the problem.
I’m happy that rumor mongering which had threatened our marriage is no more after my in law changed behavior’.-
Nantume Marius, of Katwe Parish
A Client aged 20 said “My husband suggested to me that our children (aged 1 and 2) should go and see their grand parents in Mbarara to which I accepted. After a period of time he returned home without the children. When I asked him, he accused me of lacking the capacity to look after the children. He started beating me over petty things and asked me to leave the house. When I refused to leave, he stopped spending nights at home. I realized the children were not going to return so I went to the area local leaders who in turn referred me to a Human Rights Advocate.
The Human Rights Advocate counseled both of us individually and persuaded the man to return the children. The children were brought back and he buys basic household necessities.’
Nassuna noted that if it wasn’t for the persistence and hard work of Sarah Kabi (human rights advocate), her children would not have come back. - Nansuna Margaret of Muwanga zone Katwe Parish
