Elly Nuwagaba
Florence Orishaba the Executive Director Justice Is A Right (JIAR) an organization defending women’s property rights in Ibanda district was forced to escape to Tanzania with her family over harassment by local leaders who threatened to arrest her and terminate the organization’s operating license.
She is thought to have launched several community sensitization programs in the district to empower women on how to defend themselves on issues regarding inheritance of family property by females, sharing of and owning family property and land.
According to her close associates who preferred anonymity for fear of being persecuted, she crossed to Tanzania last week after securing travel documents from the ministry of internal affairs.
Speaking to our news reporter, Mary Tumusiime, one of the coordinators of JIAR Uganda told our reporter that Orishaba will be there for a while as the situation normalizes.
Tumusiime says Local authorities have recently tramped up false accusations against Orishaba including supporting Lesbians, promoting disobedience of women in their families, inciting violence among others but she says all this is meant to deter JIAR from doing its right work in the district.
Efforts to reach Rwizi region police spokesperson Samson Kasasiira were futile as his known telephone contacts were unreachable by press time.
The organization has recently faced trouble when unknown thugs attacked the offices located on Jubilee street Ibanda town taking away crucial documents including computers and other equipment a matter that Orishaba Florence reported to police carryout investigations and arrested three people who were taken to court later.
