Mr. Ochola Alfred
and Adoch Lilly of Gwengdiya have been married for six years. Ochola however is
a reknown drunkard and wife barterer in the village. Ochola often abuses and
barters his wife Adoch when she fails to serve him meat from the 2000shs he leaves
behind for meals, and for also “failing” to give him a male child. Ochola and
Adoch have two girl children, whose education Ochola has refused to support.
This had been the
life of Ochola and Adoch until December 2013 when Adoch got tired of being
abused and hit back at Ochola. Adoch beat Ochola thoroughly in the presence of their
neighbors and friends. Embarrassed, Ochola chased his wife and children out of
his compound asserting that no one tells him to do in his home.
Although Ochola
and Adoch’s marital issues had been heard by the Local Council 1 Committee
several times, the leaders and elders were particularly disturbed this time
that Adoch was being forced out of her marital home and that the children’s
schooling was being disorganized. In the
bid to put an end to this domestic violence, the leaders and elders of Gwengdiya
village sought the help of men role models. These are family men known to have
stable marriages and have significantly been helping other couples in settling
their marital differences.
The men role
models reached out to Ochola who however dodged them several times before they
finally got hold of him and shared about his situation. Mr. Okwera Geoffrey, Chairperson
of the men role models shared his own experience with Ochola and also counseled
him. Geoffrey mentioned that having realized the benefits of living in a
domestic violence free home, he chose to join the Gulu Women Economic Development&-Globalization (GWED-G) team of advocates for
women rights. Ochola
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| A happy Adoch carrying water to her home |
chose to change and also joined the community counseling
and dialogue sessions that have since helped him realize the importance of
family.
Since then, Ochola
now testifies to the community about the benefits he received from the men role
models counseling and dialogue sessions which enabled him to reconcile with his
wife and children. Ochola and Adoch have reconciled and are now living a happy
life. Ochola is also a member of the men role model group.
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| Ochola sharing his testimony with GWED-G staff |
