According to Mrs. Akuguzibwe Phiona a peer
educator in Kanshenyi Village, Rukondo Parish, Nyakishana Sub County, alcohol
drinking has become a lifestyle in Buhweju district. Men and women spend hours
in local bars drinking from morning to evening. Accordingly, the men start
their beer parties as early as 8:00am with no regard to work. Only to return
home in the evenings, demanding for food from their wives. Failure to provide
this food or any complaints about a man’s drinking habit only earns the woman a
beating or even being chased from the home. So is the life in Buhweju district.
Bihererrahi Savino of Akakombe Trading Centre is
one of the men that had been living such a life style until Community Awareness
and Response on Aids (CARA) with support from IDF intervened into his appalling
family situation. Savino sold 90% of his land and drunk the money. He also
chased his wife away because she had refused to sign on the land sale
agreement. He swore never to bring her back to his home ever again. In the
absence of their mother Savino married off his two daughters at 15 years each.
He additionally refused to send any of his children to school claiming he had
no money.
One day three peer educators of the area
Kaboneire Davidic, Akuguzibwe Phiona and Adrine went to visit Savino about the
matter. They educated him about women and children rights and also prayed with
him. Savino repented his bad ways and promised to be a better man. First he
went and brought back his wife and also promised to stop drinking and to send
his children to school. The couple is now living happily and their last born is
in school at Katiba Primary School.
