Daniel Edyegu
7 October 2008
Kampala — THE Bukwo resident district commissioner, Christopher Chepkurui, has directed the Police to arrest people who encourage female genital mutilation.
Describing the practice as inhuman, Chepkurui said it was unjust to women and girls and contravened the Constitution.
"We cannot continue seeing our girls suffering under the guise of adhering to bad cultural norms. The Police should arrest and prosecute perpetrators of female genital mutilation," Chepkurui said.
He was on Monday speaking at Bukwo town council hall during a consultative workshop on female genital mutilation.
Chepkurui said many women in Sebei region shun delivering in health units and opt to seek services of traditional birth attendants for fear of exposing their mutilated private parts to the health workers.
He urged MPs to come up with stringent laws to punish the surgeons who circumcise females.
"The shocking fact is that even some married women flee from their husbands to return to their father's homes for circumcision."
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