In the heart of the Lugbara community in the Westnile Sub-region in Northern Uganda, a deeply rooted cultural belief called Aruba continues to shape the lives of many women. Aruba is an unwritten traditional rule that dictates that a woman must never report or speak out against an abusive husband. If she does, misfortune is believed to strike her children; they may fall terribly sick, go mad, or even die. The only way to restore balance, according to tradition, is through a sacrifice often a goat, cow, or whatever the spirits demand.

The Fear that Silences Women

This belief instils fear in women, forcing them into silence even when they face extreme forms of domestic violence. A woman suffering in her marriage is expected to endure in silence, no matter the pain, because speaking out could bring suffering upon her children. In a society where motherhood is sacred, no mother wants to be blamed for her child’s misfortune. As a result, many women choose to suffer in silence rather than seek justice.

How Aruba Protects Abusers

Aruba does not just silence women; it also protects abusers. Men who mistreat their wives face no consequences, as the culture discourages legal intervention. Instead of seeking justice through courts or community leaders, women are often advised to perform sacrifices or consult traditional healers to cleanse the supposed curse. This cultural practice creates an environment where domestic violence is normalised and cycles of abuse continue.

The Hidden Cost of Aruba

The consequences of Aruba go beyond individual households. When women remain trapped in abusive relationships, their mental and physical health deteriorates. Children growing up in such environments witness violence as normal, increasing the likelihood of intergenerational cycles of abuse. Aruba also undermines women's rights, contradicting national laws and international commitments to end gender-based violence.

Challenging the Norm: Breaking the Chains of Aruba

Despite its deep roots, Aruba is not unchangeable. We as women’s rights activists, legal advocates, and community leaders especially from Westnile must work to challenge this harmful belief. We need to lead awareness campaigns, legal literacy programs, and support groups to help marginalised women understand their rights and seek justice without fear.

The fight against Aruba requires bold conversations with elders, religious leaders, and the younger generation. The more we speak about it, the more we challenge its power. Women must be empowered to know that reporting abuse is not a curse but a step toward freedom and dignity.

A Call to Action

Therefore, Aruba may be a long-standing tradition, but traditions are meant to evolve. It is time to replace fear with justice, silence with action, and sacrifice with real solutions. The Lugbara community must come together to end the culture of silence and create a future where no woman suffers in fear of speaking out.

Written by;

Alesi Majorine

Founder and Executive Director

Zoota Initiative for Development

Arua District