Kampala — INSIDE a room at Women Won't Wait Domestic Prevention Centre, in Pallisa district, eastern Uganda, 27-year-old Jennifer Alupo smiles broadly behind a sewing machine as she sews a garment as part of the training she is undertaking.

"Life has normalised a bit. They are treating me well and I have been counselled, not only to overcome the trauma I underwent, but also to be self-reliant," Alupo says.

Alupo was in the news last year for being forced to breastfeed puppies. Although the Pallisa magistrates court has taken over the case from the Police, Alupo is yet to receive justice.

Her lawyer, Hope Iceduna, says: "The court said there is no law that deals with such complaints. They then changed the case to child neglect. Frustrated, we lodged a complaint with the Uganda Human Rights Commission, under the Human degradation, Violation and Cruelty Act."

When contacted for comment, the Pallisa Police referred The New Vision to the magistrate's court, but the latter declined to make a comment.

Carol Odoi, the Actionaid coordinator for Pallisa at the women's centre who has worked hard for Alupo's justice, says: "There is a gap in the law. The court had no basis to charge the man. The Penal Code Act does not cater for it. However, we are determined to get justice."

Background to story

Alupo got married to Nathan Amoloi in 2002, after he paid brideprice of two cows. A native of Okurutuk village, Apopong sub-country, Alupo says one night, as she slept, Alupo felt pain on her breasts.

"At first I thought that it was the child suckling, but my husband had removed the baby and replaced it with the puppy. I made an alarm, but he threatened to strangle me.

"He bribed me with sh5,000 and promised to buy meat so that I don't tell anybody. He also told me that I will eat food before the dogs.

"After my fifth child was born, I reported to my father."

Okiria Okumu, her father, arranged a meeting between him and Amoloi's parents. "During the meeting, Amoloi agreed to treat her, but after the meeting, he slapped me and refused," Alupo alleges.

Okumu took the matter to the LCs, but Alupo claims she was denied justice because her father could not afford the sh7,000 needed as seating fee for the LC1 cabinet.

They went to the LC3 for Apopong sub-country, who referred them to the sub-county probation officer, who in turn referred them to the Pallisa Police.

"They accused Alupo of being mad and told her to go back to her husband," Iceduna alleges. "But when Alupo protested, the Police took her to the women's centre.

"With the help of Actionaid, we persuaded the Police to investigate and arrest the husband. He was released a day later. The Police opened a file against Amoloi and later transferred it to the magistrates court for action."

Iceduna says the court ordered for the re-arrest of Amoloi after pressure from Actionaid, Police boss Kale Kayihura and civil society.

"The magistrate first accused Alupo of being mentally disturbed, but a medical exam showed that she wasn't," Iceduna says.

Alice Esiat, the project counsellor at the centre, says there is nothing wrong with Alupo's mental state. "Everyone, especially the men, are using insanity as an excuse to make sure this man escapes the law."

When we visited Amoloi, he had one dog named "Besigye" at his home. However, a neighbour who preferred anonymity, claims Amoloi killed the puppies after the incident. Village elders have also told us not to reveal the truth because of the shame," the source alleges.

Another neighbour who also wanted anonymity alleges: "For over five years, he has forced his wife to breastfeed dogs. I have seen it and it is part of this village's mentality. We believe that when a dog is breastfed on human milk, it becomes successful at hunting."

Margaret Atai, 33, another neighbour, believes it has something to do with the brideprice, saying he used to accuse Alupo's parents of taking the cows that provided milk for his puppies."

Alupo is still denied justice. These questions still remain: Why was the charge amended to child neglect? Why was Alupo's mental capacity questioned?

For now, Alupo is camped at Actionaid for safety because the husband has threatened to force her back home. "I paid my brideprice and if they don't refund, I will have no choice but to force her back home," Amoloi says. He has already taken back three of the children from Alupo's father.

Asked whether they can refund the brideprice, Actionaid's Odoi says they cannot because Amoloi also wants the profit the cows have produced.

There is no law that stops or permits refund of brideprice, except for different cultural practices that allow husbands to demand a refund.