Feature: Fighting centuries'old cultural blade in eastern Uganda

Perched on the undulating hills in Kapchorwa district, eastern Uganda, is Kokop Chebet's mud and wattle house. Not far from her house, a strong water fall roars as the setting sun sinks into the horizon.

Chebet is a 'traditional surgeon' involved in the now outlawed Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). FGM, a centuries' old tradition in this part of the country, involves the cutting of the outer genitalia of young girls and women aged from 12 and above.

Among the Sabiny people here, it is seen as an initiation of girls into womanhood. Once it is done, the girls are then ready for marriage.

The World Health Organization says FGM has both physical and emotional consequences among which include severe bleeding, infections, infertility as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths.

For the last six decades, Chebet has been involved in the cutting of young girls.

She is struggling to break away from a custom that is also her source of livelihood. She cuts women for a fee between 20,000 shillings (5 U.S. dollars) to 50,000 shillings (14 dollars).

For Chebet, her involvement in FGM is spiritual. She told Xinhua that she started carrying out FGM after getting express instructions from her ancestors.

Girls and women in this village testify to this, arguing that there is a spell that comes over them demanding that they should undergo the cutting process.

Twenty one year old Rachael Chemutai, a mother of three told Xinhua that it was hard to defy her elders who instructed her and her peers to undergo the process.

Chebet who is also a traditional birth attendant said many pregnant mothers come to her house seeking antenatal care. She said under the guise of giving birth, they ask her to circumcise them.

Chebet argued that she constantly debates with herself whether to abandon the practice owing to the pressures from government and activists or go on as her spiritual ancestors ordered.

Uganda in 2010 outlawed FGM and if the culprits are arrested and prosecuted, they face a jail term of between four to five years.

It is this cultural clash that is continuing to pause a daunting task in the fight against FGM.

Activists argue that they now have to raise an attitude change towards FGM.

"Culture is not static, we want the good things to continue and the bad ones to stop. FGM is not a good part of culture and it must stop," Stanley Ntagali, head of Uganda's Anglican Church said.

He was speaking on Sept. 19 at the launch of the UN funded annual anti-FGM marathon aimed at increasing awareness against the practice.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is now partnering with local churches in this region to spread the word against FGM.

"To change culture, you need someone who belongs to the same community, who speaks the same language, people will listen," said Prossy Nakanjako, Communication Officer UNFPA said.

She added, "Culture speaks to the heart and so does religion, therefore using the church will be critical in eliminating FGM."

Esperance Fundira, UNFPA Country Representative said 15 years of working with community based organizations has showed that behavior change in communities towards FGM is possible.

"Young and older men are changing their attitudes towards a culture that is supportive of the social and economic empowerment of girls and women," she said.

Fundira acknowledges that although it is going to be a long and complex process of changing attitudes towards FGM in the remote areas, the practice can be eliminated.

"It is possible to give up FGM without giving up the meaningful, positive aspects of the Sabiny culture," she said.

Eunice Mwawga, a local district officer said while targeting cultural change is critical, there is also need to increase the number of schools in the region.

She said that sending girls to school delays FGM and if the girls go for higher education, they will be empowered to resist FGM.

"It is not easy to remove this thing in the minds of people. We still need more girls in schools and more scholarships for girls," she said.

She added, "We have so far eliminated up to 60 percent of FGM but we need to work on the 40 percent." Enditem