Prior to the project, Kyegegwa district had the great challenge of gender-based violence and child abuse. Many women in Mpara and Hapuyo sub counties were reporting cases of mistreatment and abuse of women’s rights characterized by battering, sexual violence, restricted access to property, and limited access and control of proceeds from agricultural production.

In a bid to mitigate the situation of gender-based violence and child rights, the women, youth, and local leaders trained by WLEDE influenced the subcounty councils to pass a bi-law promoting observance of women’s and children’s rights with penalties therein. The bi-law spelt out the roles of local leaders, elders’ forum, women’s and youth leaders, and human rights activists in protecting violence against children. This bilaw has been promoted and popularized in the sub counties and has led to fewer cases of the vices.