Uganda's efforts to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) are being severely undermined by inadequate and fragmented funding, despite the devastating social and economic consequences of this pervasive issue.
A closer examination of national and local government budgets highlights a troubling trend of declining allocations and inconsistent support, leaving vulnerable populations at significant risk.
While Uganda’s national budget has seen nominal increases, climbing from Shs32.7 trillion in FY 2018/2019 to Shs72.1 trillion in FY 2024/2025, the allocation for social development sectors, including GBV prevention and response, remains critically low.
A 2020 UN Women Assessment Report on SGBV Financing in Uganda revealed that less than 5% of the budgets of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and Local Governments (LGs) are dedicated to addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG).
A particularly alarming trend is the decline in the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD) budget, which plays a central role in GBV interventions.
The MGLSD’s share of the national budget has shrunk from 0.60% in FY 2018/19 to 0.53% in FY 2023/24, with the most drastic drop occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In FY 2020/21, allocations fell to 0.36% and further declined to a mere 0.26% in FY 2021/22.
The funding challenges faced by MGLSD are compounded by the fact that a significant portion of its budget is consumed by wages, subventions, and operational costs, leaving limited resources for critical GBV initiatives.
This funding gap has severely hindered efforts to prevent and respond to GBV, as well as support other vulnerable groups.
Essential development programs are either underfunded or remain unimplemented, impeding progress in safeguarding vulnerable populations and addressing systemic social challenges.
Other MDAs, such as the Ministry of Health, the Uganda Police Force, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, are also involved in GBV prevention and response.
However, their budget allocations exhibit significant year-over-year fluctuations, making it difficult to plan and implement long-term, effective GBV programs.
The inconsistency in funding results in fragmented support, weakening the impact of interventions and leaving crucial initiatives under-resourced.
As a result, Uganda has become increasingly dependent on development partners and civil society organizations for essential services such as shelters, case management, and psychosocial support for survivors.
At the same time, prevention programs are underfunded, limiting their reach and effectiveness.
This situation highlights the urgent need to prioritize financing for GBV prevention and response across all MDAs.
Stable and predictable funding is essential to ensure that GBV interventions can be effective, sustainable, and widespread.
Without adequate resources, Uganda’s efforts to address this critical issue will continue to falter, leaving the most vulnerable members of society exposed to ongoing violence and further social and economic harm.
