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Female circumcision cases in Uganda increases as married women face pressure from society

A survey in Uganda shows an increase in Female Genital Mutilation among married women

A survey released recently by The Reproductive Educative and Community Health Programme (REACH) shows and increase in the number of female genital cut in Uganda.

The survey revealed that 24 per cent of girls aged between 10 and 14 years have experienced some form of genital mutilation, while 76 per cent of women aged between 25 and 35 years have undergone the cut.

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REACH executive director, Beatrice Chelangat, indicated that although the practice of FGM among young girls is declining in the country, circumcision of married women has become popular.

“This is done in private homes and in the bushes, hills, caves and in full knowledge of their husbands,” Ms Chelangat said in an interview.

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According to the report uncircumcised married women face pressure from their husbands and some members of the society as they are not allowed to serve elders, get food from the granary or attend traditional meetings.

The United Nations Population Fund estimates that 100 million to 140 million girls and women alive have undergone some form of female genital mutilation.

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