“We Are Reduced to Women” … “We Are Just Mere Rats”: On Post-Disarmament Gender Disparities in the Karamoja Region of Uganda

16 April 2025, 6.00 pm | Saarland University, Innovation Center A2 1, Seminar Room 3.05.1

The Käte Hamburger Centre for Cultural Practices of Reparation (CURE) and the CEUS | Cluster for European Studies cordially invite you to the Käte Hamburger Lecture at Saarland University.
The lecture series will focus on current research positions of the CURE Fellows on cultural practices of reparation.
After the lectures, the main topics presented can be discussed in greater depth in a public discussion round.

Tabitha Naisiko: "We Are Reduced to Women" ... "We Are Just Mere Rats": On Post-Disarmament Gender Disparities in the Karamoja Region of Uganda The title of this lecture quotes outcries of men living in the Karamoja region of Uganda, situated at the border with Kenya and South Sudan. Tabitha Naisiko argues that their bitter complaints arise from an anthropological lack in the post-disarmament development strategies. For Naisiko, the central problem lies in the mismanagement of gender relations: By prioritising women as change agents, efforts to develop the region have created gender disparities resulting in a masculinity crisis. Gender as a social structure has become dysfunctional. As a result, women are overwhelmed with both productive and reproductive roles while men are struggling with alcohol, violence, and social lethargy. These conditions impede sustainable development. In her lecture, Naisiko explores how existing social norms and gender relations can be incorporated into development efforts in order to establish successful programmes creating positive change.

The Käte Hamburger Lectures offer an insight into the Centre's current research work, bring it into the university and invite the interested public to a discussion on cultural practices of reparation. Registration for the webcast: kontakt@khk.uni-saarland.de.

The event will be held in English.