FGM cases are at 3% in Mt Elgon

Anti FGM board CEO Bernadette Loloju has called upon stakeholders in Mt Elgon constituency to join hands in the fight against female gender mutilation in the community that has so far been rated to be at 3% according to a recent study.

In her address to elders and women from the community at Kopsiro, Loloju says the government is on the front line in fighting gender based violence with FGM being one of them and teenage pregnancies.

She disclosed that they decided to engage elders of the community since they are the custodians of culture saying they have declared to work with the board and other stakeholders to end the retrogressive culture saying it has hindered the dreams of many girls to be great people in the society.

“We are focused to ensure by 2030 we will have eradicated the FGM culture through the various engagements with stakeholders who have so far shown their willingness to embrace this multisectoral approach to do away with the culture,” she said

Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi Chesebe said he was instrumental in having the Anti FGM law in place saying so far he is glad the cases have reduced but he called for more efforts to fully eradicate it.

Hon. Kapondi proposed for a joint circumcision ceremony for boys from the community saying it will offer the best platform for elders from the community to offer guidance and counseling to the youths on several issues with gender based violence being key.

The 3rd term serving MP further called upon men to embrace contribution from women in the society saying with the current empowerment programs they have an opportunity to positively change the community.

Elders from the community unanimously agreed to work together to end the retrogressive culture.