By Mike Rwothomio

The Alur Kingdom has launched its "Minimum Agenda 2026" initiative to combat Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and related forms of abuse across its chiefdoms. This builds on the longstanding commitments of His Majesty Ubimu Phillip Rauni Olarker III, the Alur King , who has consistently addressed these issues through key pronouncements from 2015 to 2023.

Launched on January 30, 2026, during a stakeholder engagement meeting at ZODFA's offices in Zombo Town Council, the agenda builds on longstanding royal pronouncements by His Majesty Rwoth Ubimu Phillip Rauni Olarker III, the King of Alur, from 2015 to 2023.

Chiefs and other stakeholders at the event

These pronouncements emphasized zero tolerance for rape and defilement, women's access to and control over property, empowerment and protection of girls and women, safe communities, food security, keeping girls in school, and upholding their rights to health, nutrition, property ownership, voice, decision-making, participation in development, and access to justice.

The initiative aligns with national priorities under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Council of Traditional Leaders in Africa (COTLA) Uganda Chapter, and international partnerships, including funding and support from UN Women Uganda and coordination by the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU).

Traditional chiefs and community leaders attending the meeting pledged to popularize and implement the King's directives, particularly through the cultural principle of "Kura Matira" (good behavior or positive habits). This promotes non-violence, dignity for women and girls, elimination of harmful practices, and behavioral change rooted in good leadership, love, hard work, family responsibility, and positive teachings.

Key Commitments

The chiefs committed to the following actions to strengthen GBV/VAWG prevention and response mechanisms;

- Publishing and distributing a pamphlet titled "A Call to Action Against VAWG in Alur Chiefdoms" to clans and communities.

- Integrating anti-VAWG messages into speeches and documentation at cultural events, including funerals and customary marriages.

- Reporting VAWG cases to relevant authorities to facilitate victim support, survivor assistance, and dignified offender correction.

- Conducting regular visits to police posts and formal courts to monitor prevalence, mitigation efforts, success stories, and challenges.

- Including women leaders in traditional justice mediation sessions, especially on issues like land inheritance, leadership, and customary marriage.

- Launching multimedia campaigns to encourage GBV-affected girls to return to or remain in school, complete education or skills training, and produce periodic reports on girls' enrollment and retention.

- Promoting positive cultural values while eliminating harmful practices such as child marriage, forced widow inheritance, and land grabbing from widows.

- Conducting school visits to advance Kura Matira values, empower girls in leadership and decision-making, and engage boys as allies in gender equity.

Additional chiefdom-level activities include:Training women leaders in VAWG handling and conflict management.

Sensitization drives in villages, schools, and markets to reduce teenage pregnancies.

- Home-to-home visits to promote girl child school retention at the start of 2026 terms.

- Supporting women returnees from failed marriages to access resources.

Linking women to economic empowerment programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM).

- Clan-level sensitization against incest and other negative practices.

Routine school engagements to promote girls' education.

Whilst opening the session, Alur Kingdom Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Opar Angala urged chiefs " to profile, document, and record GBV, VAWG, and DV cases for evidence-based mitigation"

Kingdom's Prime Minister Prince  Lawrence Opar Angala.

Angala also emphasized popularizing anti-violence messages and documenting reports for effective follow-up, expressing optimism under continued national leadership for socio-economic transformation.

Bob Opio Okech, Minister of Culture and Legal Affairs (also handling Gender and Social Development), highlighted championing the initiative via the Kura Matira policy.

Samuel Ocaki, Zombo District Community Development Officer, noted the district's " high teenage pregnancy rates" the highest in the region, and called for multi-stakeholder approaches.

Sunday Kayom of MEMPROW pledged ongoing support for women's rights.

Stakeholder Reactions

Chiefs and participants shared local insights on prevalence, interventions, gaps, and needs.

Chombe Jalsinda , Chief of Okayo, stressed the need to empowering chiefs to enforce positive norms.

Ivan Jakernga , Chief of Upanu, called for training on standardized reporting meanwhile Eunice Kayeny Aletha , Minister of Gender in Omua chiefdom praised the King's inclusion of women and urged continued gender equity.

Evaristo , Chief of Avari, Okoro County Chairperson, supported the need streamlined documentation.

Rupiny Sumba Ronald, one of the stakeholders , advocated for engagement of boys in "Kura Matira policy" to highlight benefits for women.

Proposed strategies include capacity building for chiefs in report writing, promoting women in cultural leadership, benchmarking with leaders in DR Congo, joint by-laws with local governments, profiling genuine chiefs, and documenting traditional justice procedures.

 Follow-up engagements are planned for Padyere County, Nebbi District.

The launch comes amid ongoing national efforts to address GBV. According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2024, domestic violence cases decreased by 4% to 14,073 from 14,681 in 2023, with sex-related offenses dropping 2.8% to 14,425 from 14,846. Over 75% of domestic violence victims are women and girls, underscoring persistent challenges driven by social norms, economic dependence, and under-reporting.

Alur Kingdom Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Opar Angala (center) and other officials, including traditional chiefs and community leaders, pose for a group photo in front of ZODFA's offices in Zombo Town Council following their engagement on January 30, 2026. Photo by Mike Rwothomio.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at Zoomer Africa, your number one grassroot infomation hub.