Beatrice Oyella: Empowering Communities to Break the Cycle of Gender-Based Violence

At just 31 years old, Beatrice Oyella is a beacon of hope for her community in Lajul Owiny village, Pajule Sub-County, Pader District in northern Uganda. A passionate community activist, she has made it her mission to tackle pressing issues affecting the lives of women and families in her area.

"Being close to my community, I see the problems we face every day, and I feel compelled to act," says Beatrice.

In 2021, her community selected her to participate in a training organized by the Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU), a UN Women partner under the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Programme.

Beatrice explains that she received training on human rights, and more specifically on the rights of women, girls and children, and counselling. She was also trained in financial management, as many cases of domestic violence in homes stem from financial challenges.

One of the most persistent issues Beatrice addresses is domestic violence, a topic that dominates discussions during the community meetings she facilitates. "In our activism work, we use charts where people highlight challenges for dialogue. Domestic violence is always a key concern," she explains.

Beatrice shares the heartbreaking cycle many families endure, "Many men here neglect their responsibilities and spend their days drinking. When they return home to find no food—often because they haven’t provided any money—they resort to violence, blaming their wives."

Through her work with the CDFU, under the EVAW programme, Beatrice is helping break this cycle through raising awareness, supporting survivors, and advocating for change in her community.

“Some men are starting to take greater responsibility for their families by providing food, medical care, and paying school fees more consistently than ever before. It brings me so much joy to see that my sensitization efforts are being taken seriously by some,” she says with a smile.

In addition to addressing domestic violence, Beatrice has been actively sensitizing women on financial management. She notes that many have joined village savings groups where they meet weekly to save money. These savings later help them address various challenges in their lives.

“Empowering women financially enables them to become more independent in meeting household needs. That’s why I work closely with both women and men in my community to address household income challenges and improve their quality of life,” she says.

Beatrice’s empowerment stems from the 5-year Joint Programme on Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence (UNJPGBV), which integrates sexual and reproductive health and rights. Funded by the Government of Sweden, this initiative is a collaborative effort between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women, and the Ugandan Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD). The UNJPGBV operates as a national programme with targeted interventions at the community, institutional, and policy levels across 14 selected districts.

“Women in my community need significant support, as many are highly vulnerable,” Beatriece adds, “Continuous sensitization of community members is essential if we are to effectively combat gender-based violence. I urge development partners to continue supporting our efforts through UN Women.”