Kampala — Female police officers staged a peaceful demonstration against domestic sexual violence along the roundabouts of the city centre.

The women dressed in their khaki uniform held placards at the Jinja Road, Mulago and Katwe roundabouts on Friday protesting violence against women and children by men.

Bold messages in black, red and blue font colour read: 'Don't suffer in silence, violence is not acceptable', 'Report violence to the nearest Police or local authority', 'Respect women's bodies, stop sexual violence', 'Don't wait act now end domestic violence and child abuse' and 'Domestic violence is a source of poverty prevent it'.

According to women activists spearheaded by Uganda Women's Network, the peaceful demonstration was aimed at raising awareness to Ugandans that violence against women and children has disastrous effects.

They also targeted politicians to commit to ending violence against women.

The demonstration was organized by the ministry of gender, labour and social development and women rights activists.

Eleanor Beigana, a board member of Equal Opportunity Commission, condemned men who have abandoned their wives after producing twins or triplets.

"This is a new form of violence [men running away from their homes] which needs to be addressed," she stressed.

The women held the demo under the theme: 'From peace in home to peace in the nation, end violence against women'.

The placards were designed by UWONET in conjunction with the Police and UNFPA.