At least 8 out of 10 women in Uganda have experienced some form of violence at their places of work, according to a new study done by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

The study was conducted between February 2020 and February 2021, on women aged between 15 to 59 years working in the formal and the informal sector.

According to the study, the most common forms of violence were insults at 84%, physical harm at 21%, physical assaults, and attacks at 17%.

Dr. Imelda Atayi Musana, UBOS Acting Executive Director, says this is the first time Uganda is carrying out a nation gender-based survey.

The survey also sought to know the rate of violence against children both girls and girls, and against older women of 60 years and above.

Musana said there is a need for further study into the causes of violence against women at places of work.

Speaking at the launch of the report, the State Minister for Finance Amos Lugoloobi says that government will use the outcomes of the study to protect women.

Lugoloobi said that the various government agencies should use the resources they have to bring an end to violence against vulnerable groups.

The other findings from the survey showed that 6 in every 10 working women willingly give all or part of their earnings to their partners and only 2 in every ten are forced to do so.

The study also indicates 1 in every 10 women has refused money or rejected a job because their partners had disapproved and that 2 in every working woman had ever been denied money for household expenses.

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URN