The legal framework
Protection rests on the Domestic Violence Act 2010, which criminalises domestic violence and allows protection orders from magistrates' courts and local council courts. Police family and child protection units handle reports, and one-stop centres operate in several hospitals. As elsewhere in the region, the gap is not in the legislation but in shelter capacity, transport to courts and consistent police response.
Key points
| Protection order | Available from the magistrates' court, usually without a lawyer |
|---|---|
| Definition of abuse | Includes psychological and economic abuse in the more recent statutes |
| Emergency response | Police units specialising in gender-based violence exist in most districts |
| Medical evidence | A medical report is the key document; obtain it as early as possible |
| Shelters | Limited in number and mostly NGO-run |
| Children | Can be included in a protection order |
| Domestic Violence Act 2010 | Provides protection orders from magistrates' courts |
| Local council courts | Often the first point of contact in rural areas |
| Police units | Child and Family Protection Units handle these cases |
| Compensation | The court can order compensation as part of the remedy |
In practice
- Build a record: dated notes, photographs, medical reports, messages and names of witnesses.
- Plan the exit before announcing it — separation is statistically the most dangerous period.
- Keep identity documents, some money and a spare set of keys somewhere safe outside the home.
- Tell schools and employers where safety arrangements are needed.
- Apply at the magistrate's court; local council courts can refer but have limited powers.
- Ask the court for a compensation order alongside the protection order.
Cost and coverage
Protection order applications are free or very low-cost; legal aid organisations and law clinics provide free representation.
Recent changes
The clearest regional improvement has been the spread of one-stop centres, which remove the need to travel between police station, hospital and court.
Where to go
- Police Child and Family Protection Units.
- Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA Uganda).
- Hospital-based one-stop centres and NGO shelters.
Worth knowing
Getting the medical report early is decisive: most cases that fail in these systems fail for want of documentation, not for want of law. Local council courts are accessible but cannot issue protection orders. For real protection you need the magistrate's court.
Official sources and links
- World Health Organization — international reference on this topic
- WHO Regional Office for Africa — country data and programmes