FGM in decline in Kapchorwa, Uganda

November 16, 2009 By Daniel Edyegu - New Vision Online, Uganda FEMALE genital mutilation is on the decline in Kapchorwa district, the LC5 chairman, Nelson Chelimo, has said. He noted that despite the absence of statistics, the Sabiny were gradually abandoning the brutal practice. "We have reached a level where the majority of the Sabiny know the danger of female genital mutilation. The communities that still carry out the practice do it out of ignorance. This calls for intensive education of girls and massive'sensitisation' " Chelimo said on Saturday. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. In Uganda, the practice is carried out among the Sabiny in Bukwo and Kapchorwa districts and the Pokot Karimojong in Amudat district. The Tepeth Karimojong in Katikekile sub-county in Moroto district and the Kadam Karimojong in Moruita sub-county in Nakapiripirit district also carry out the practice. The Kapchorwa district council passed a bylaw banning the practice in March. "We are now waiting for a national law to be enacted to eliminate this practice" Chelimo said. Geoffrey Sande of Reproductive Education and Community Health, a civil organisation campaigning against FGM in Karamoja and Sebei regions, said the practice still prevails due to myths about the ritual. The parliamentary committee on gender, labour and social development last Wednesday concluded a four-day consultative tour of Kapchorwa, Amudat and Bukwo districts to seek views on the genital mutilation Bill.