The government yesterday launched a plan aimed at fighting Female Genital Mutilation.

FGM is mainly carried out in Kapchorwa and Bukwo districts during even years.

The plan, a joint initiative of the government, United Nations Population Fund and Unicef will support communities to fight the act.

It is being implemented in 16 other African countries. UNFPA country representative, Janet Jackson said : "The focus of the joint programme is to leverage social dynamics towards the accelerated abandonment of FGM within a generation, with at least one country declared free of the practice by 2012," Ms Jackson said.

Ms Dora Byamukama, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly said about 500 girls undergo the ritual to signify a girl's entry into womanhood.