Pamela (not real names), 26, late on a rainy night boarded a taxi. It was the only one she could find. The hour, a little past midnight. As she took the back seat, Pamela breathed a sigh of relief thanking God that finally she had found transport back home. Little did she know that the four male passengers with whom she shared a taxi were only posing as such-they raped her.

“The experience has maimed me forever,” Pamela says as she stares into space. “I am not a bad person. I had done nothing to those men. God knows that morning I prayed for His protection.”
The Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2010 says 709 cases of rape were investigated compared to 619 cases in 2009, an increase of 14.5%. A total of 252 suspects of rape were arrested and charged in court.
The report also gives a total of  274 cases of indecent assault under Other sex related offences,  12 cases of incest and  86 cases of unnatural offences.
Janice Ogonji, an Amnesty International researcher, in an online article published on the Voice of America website said the attitude in Uganda is that women are to blame for sexual violence. She says it is a problem faced by women all over the world.
In certain, cultures rape is used as a tool to get a spouse. But like female genital mutilation, citing the overwhelming negativities, human rights activists have condemned it and the culture is fast dying out.
Rape, a criminal act that is never about choice but power, is probably one of the most heinous things that can happen to anyone.
Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines rape as to force someone to have sex with you when they do not want to by threatening them or using violence. The consequences leave wounds so deep if not treated systematically one is pushed right to the point of committing suicide.
Joseph Musaalo the UCU counsellor says rape robs its victims in a wholistic manner – physically, spiritually, socially, psychologically, and emotionally. And because of the loss of dignity and the social factor_stigma_ many out of fear suffer silently. This is probably because seeking for justice means coming face to face with the abuser and a long process of reliving the painful, traumatic events among other things.
Musaalo explains that a person who has survived rape is flooded with all kinds of emotions. The person feels dirty, disappointed, and worthless and is constantly disturbed in the mind. If Christian, the victim begins to doubt God, His existence, protection and love.
“Two things could happen. Either the person will become loose especially if they had kept a life of abstinence in wait of marriage. Or she might hate the opposite sex for the crime commited against her. This is why couselling is vital,” he explains.
Hope Ntakinlinaze is the vice- chairperson of Hope After Rape, an organization that helps rape victims. She agrees with him. She says it is for this reason that some women decide never to get married because they are reminded of that painful experience every time they look at men.
Victims, many times battle to regain self-respect, self-esteem, self-assurance, and self-control. It is even worse when the rapist is a trusted person or a provider.
Musaalo says that in such a situation you stop to think of the person as a relative but a ‘monster’ of a relative.
“You have to weigh the costs. You can decide to stay with this person and be constantly abused or choose to report the matter and get help out of the situation. Confide in somebody you can trust or a counsellor. You have to tell somebody,” Musaalo emphasises.
On the health effects of rape, Musaalo says a person abused needs to get on post- exposure prophylaxis treatment as soon as it happens as there could be STD infection.
“Sometimes there is pregnancy as a result. And in this case the person will need a lot of counselling to accept to keep the rapist’s child. Most of them opt for abortion which could come with a lot of complications,” he observes.
Ntakinlinaze advises that all such incidences, though difficult, must be dealt with according to the law; the perpetrator must be taken to court and prosecuted.
“And there should never be a time when a woman blames herself for being raped. No body deserves to be treated like that even when their dress code is wanting,” Ntakinlinaze says.
She also says the experience is so traumatising that a person abused should go through both counselling and psychosocial support.
“Psychosocial support takes the root cause approach and the process helps heal the wounds,” she explains.
Section 117 of the Penal Code Act (Cap. 106 of the laws of Uganda) says: - “Any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman without her consent, or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threat or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of bodily harm, or means of false representation as to the nature of the act, or in the case of married women, by impersonating her husband, is guilty of the felony termed rape.”
Section 118 of the Penal Code Act prescribes the punishment of rape and provides that: - “Any person convicted of rape shall be liable to suffer death.”
The Penal Code Act also provides for attempted rape. Under section 119, it provides that: - “Any person who attempts to commit rape is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life, with or without corporal punishment.”
How to avoid falling victim

lMake sure your assailant is not armed by the time you choose to fight. He might harm you as he is desperate.
lBe aware of your surroundings. Notice if someone is following you. If so, cross the street and walk quickly.
lIf you have been attacked make as much noise as you can to attract the attention of passersby or people in the neighbourhood.
lIf you drive, park in areas that are well-lit.
lAsk the person who has dropped you to wait and see that you get safely inside before taking off.
lTrust your instincts. If you feel uneasy, remove yourself from the situation right away.
lGo out with friends whenever possible, rather than alone.
lMake sure the taxi you get into has got mixed sexes.
lDon’t leave a drink unattended. A drug could be slipped in your drink.
lLearn some self- defence tactics like Taekwondo:Fight back. You stand a chance of escaping.