How Ruth was Rescued from the Jaws of FGM

19-year-old Ruth from Bukwo district had almost a pre-determined life, one which was certain to end with her undergoing Female Genital Mutilation. Coming from a family of five children, 3 girls and two boys, in her community her parents like many other people still believed in culture. As a third born, her fate was decided when her elder sister and brother successfully underwent the circumcision ritual.

She experienced a lot of difficulties growing up since her father was a drunkard and the family depended largely on the proceeds from selling booze, a business ran by the mother. The first born and the second born never studied beyond primary seven. 

“Life was so hard, we never had enough to eat, dress and going to school was a hustle because my parents had no interest in investing,” says Ruth

However, all this did not deter Ruth. She was determined to be different. She wanted to study and go further than her siblings, finish school and become someone important. After repeating several times because of lack of school fees, she finally sat for her Primary Leaving Examinations in 2017 at the age of 14 and passed with aggregate 22, a good performance considering her challenges. She joined secondary school and her struggles for fees and scholastic materials continued hampering her efforts to finish O’ Level in the stipulated time. 

The challenge of studying was nothing compared to what awaited Ruth. In 2024 while in form three, her father informed her that she was to accompany her brother and undergo FGM, as a fulfilment of culture and to show that she had come of age and was now ready for marriage.

Ruth who had attended several dialogues of UNFPA and ActionAid International Uganda, against FGM, knew its negative impact. She flatly refused to undergo FGM. This infuriated the father who did not only withdraw any support he provided her, but also disowned her and chased her from home. Her mother too backed the decision of her father leaving her on her own.

“I learnt from the ActionAid and UNFPA dialogues the harmful effects of FGM and besides I am still young and not ready for marriage. Please daddy, I don’t want to be cut.” Ruth pleaded passionately.

Male Action Group (MAG) member offers Ruth sanctuary 

Ruth having nowhere to go sought advice from Shadrack Bowen a Male Action Group member trained and supported by ActionAid and UNFPA. Ruth narrated her ordeal to him and he offered her to stay in his home as he found a way of reaching her father. 

During this period, she stopped schooling as her dad continued to disown her. Shadrack visited the father to try and talk to him but he was adamant, insisting, the daughter had to undergo FGM for him to accept her back. After several visits over a period of time and explaining to him the dangers of FGM and that it was against the law for which he could be imprisoned, he started softening his stance. 

 Shadrack emphasized to Ruth’s father the importance of keeping her in school and ensuring she finishes. He eventually came around and allowed Ruth to go back home and started planning for her to go back to school. He also promised to never force her to undergo FGM. Shadrack talked to the school and they wrote off some debts and gave him flexible fees repayment schedule. Ruth has resumed school and she is supposed to sit for her O’ Level exams this year. During holidays she engages in casual labour to earn some money to pay part of the fees.

Challenges of lack of the basic necessities like fees, clothes and pads among others still persist but she is happy because the threat of FGM is not there.

“What inspires me to remain in school is that none of my siblings went beyond primary level and this has perpetuated the poverty cycle. I want to change this and have a more positive success story. I want to study very hard and become a nurse and help my community.  Unfortunately, my parents are very poor. I wish someone would support my education” says Ruth tearfully.

Ruth is grateful for the support of Shadrack in enabling her escape FGM and remaining in school. Ruth would have been part of the statistics of girls who have undergone FGM, gotten married early and continued the long path of poverty. She can now look forward to a future though riddled with uncertainties, it is by far brighter.

Shadrack Bowen and other MAGs have been at the forefront of rescuing girls like Ruth from FGM, early marriages and promoting peace and harmony in homes in fight against gender-based violence.

“When Ruth came to me, together with the LC1 chairman, we kept on talking to her father, we gave him examples of successful women who were not cut. He believed so much in culture but after sometime we were able to convince him to abandon the idea. 

I have noticed a change in the parents, they are more supportive towards the girl’s education but they do not have much. He struggles to meet the fees and other scholastic requirements. We call on well-wishers to help this girl achieve her dream of becoming a nurse,” says Shadrack.

Shadrack believes that about 20% of people in his area still believe in FGM and calls for continuous sensitization especially for areas bordering the forest so that the practice is abandoned completely.