In a disturbing turn of events, Kamuli district has turned into a hotspot for violent attacks by wives on their husbands, with a shocking twist: genital mutilation.
Multiple cases have surfaced where fearless women have cut off their husbands’ genitals, leading to arrests and jail sentences after guilty pleas.
The 34-year-old Suzan Namuganza set the precedent when she was sentenced to 15 years in prison for brutally cutting off her husband’s genitals in a fit of anger.
The victim, 45-year-old Moses Kawubanya, expressed outrage at the sentence, calling it “lenient” and demanding a 40-year or lifetime sentence instead.
“Fifteen years for the assailant who caused me a permanent scar is quite unfair,” Kawubanya said.
The couple had lived in harmony until the attack on June 5, 2024. Namuganza was the bursar at a local school where Kawubanya was the director and a teacher at another school.
The attack occurred after Kawubanya reportedly married a second wife only identified as Nabirye, 35, who later vowed to stand by her husband despite his disability. Namuganza chopped Kawubanya’s genitals with a sharp object, leaving him severely injured.
Neighbors rushed him to Kamuli General Hospital, where doctors amputated the damaged organ. He was later referred to Mulago Hospital for further management. Upon his return home, Kawubanya received a hero’s welcome and has since become a counselor for men who have suffered similar attacks, dubbing himself the “counselor of castrated men in Uganda.
Another horrific attack involved Kevina Nabirye, who allegedly chopped off her husband’s genitals. Kamuli Chief Magistrate’s Court sentenced Nabirye, a mother of four to 20 years in prison, after she pleaded guilty to attempted murder for brutally attacking her husband and chopping his genitals.
The incident happened on the night of February 18, 2025, at around 11pm at the couple’s home in Buguwa Village, Kamuli District.
Nabirye allegedly accused her husband, Mathias Bwamiki, of infidelity and unsatisfactory performance in bed.
Delivering his ruling, Chief Magistrate Paul Owino said Nabirye’s actions caused permanent physical and psychological damage to the victim. However, he also acknowledged Nabirye’s guilty plea and expression of remorse.
The Chief Magistrate sentenced her to 20 years in prison, citing the irreversible harm caused.
Medical experts at Kamuli General Hospital indicated that Bwamiki may never function again, as his genitals were completely severed in the attack. The most recent incident happened on June 7, 2024, when another 40-year-old Kamuli businesswoman was arrested by the Police for allegedly attempting to cut off her husband’s genitals.
According to the Police, the suspect, only identified as Rehema, attacked her husband, Richard Masanka, 60, while he was sleeping at their home in Busoigo cell, Kasoigo ward, Northern Division in Kamuli Municipality.
“The victim was rushed to Kwagala Medical Center in Buwengempya and later referred to Kamuli General Hospital,” said ASP Micheal Kasadha, the Busoga North Regional Spokesperson.
The Police condemned the attack and urged couples facing conflict to seek counseling or legal redress instead of resorting to violence.
“We urge couples to avoid acts of violence that destroy lives and families,” said ASP Kasadha.
The incidents sent shockwaves in the community, with many calling for an end to domestic violence.
James Wakabi, a resident of Mbulamuti, said the wave of genital mutilation that has engulfed Kamuli is forcing many men to exercise caution during the night.
“You can wake up when your genitals are missing and many of us have resulted to sleeping in our trousers,” he said.
Ayub Muzaale, a resident of Iganga, says he now fears Kamuli women like a plague.
“When I approach any woman and realize she is from Kamuli, I run for dear life because I don’t want to loose my manhood,” Muzaale says.
Vengeance
According to Nabirah Namuwaya, a businesswoman in Jinja, some men deserve such attacks after abandoning their wives, leaving them in poverty and filling them with anger.
“You (men) keep on marrying other women, and you leave us in houses suffering,” Namuwaya said.
Esther Nabwire said the power imbalance between men and women often leads to feelings of betrayal and a desire for revenge, often targeting the symbol of masculinity.
She urges all stakeholders and victims to distance themselves from gender-based violence, emphasizing the importance of working together to create a culture of mutual respect and understanding.
Nabwire’s words serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of gender-based violence to society. It’s essential that we prioritize education, awareness, and support for victims of violence while also working to challenge and change the societal attitudes that perpetuate these harmful behaviors.
