Gender based violence and women’s economic empowerment in Katanga, Makerere, Uganda

Abstract

While Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is widely recognized as a barrier to women's economic empowerment, this study argues that in urban informal settlements like Katanga, Kampala, the two form a self-reinforcing cycle of disempowerment. Using a qualitative case study design, the research demonstrates that GBV acts not merely as an outcome of poverty, but as a patriarchal backlash mechanism that systematically sabotages women's participation in and benefits from government programs like the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) and the Parish Development Model (PDM). Conversely, the pursuit of economic independence often precipitates violence. Data from focus group discussions and key informant interviews with 52 participants reveal mechanisms of sabotage including asset confiscation, enforced absenteeism, and psychological trauma that render standalone economic programs ineffective. The findings further highlight fragmented institutional responses that fail to break this cycle. The study concludes that transformative impact requires integrated, GBV-responsive program design and economically-aware GBV services that simultaneously target women's economic agency and the patriarchal norms enabling violence. The research contributes to feminist and resource theories by demonstrating their interplay in urban informal settlements and offers practical recommendations for policymakers, program implementers, and community organizations working at the intersection of gender justice and economic development.