The alleged rape of a 27-year-old woman with an intellectual disability in Kabale District has brought renewed attention to the heightened risk of sexual violence faced by persons with disabilities and the limited support available to survivors and their families.
Women and girls with disabilities are widely recognized as being at greater risk of abuse due to factors including dependence on caregivers, communication barriers, stigma, and limited access to justice. In many cases, families are left to shoulder the emotional and financial burden with little institutional support.
One such case is that of Asiimwe Grace from Butare, Kitumba Sub-county, who gave birth to a baby girl on April 14, 2026, after she was allegedly raped in June 2025. Her family says the identity of the alleged perpetrator remains unknown.
Grace’s mother, Tukamuhebwa Provia, says her daughter’s intellectual disability makes it difficult for her to care for the newborn, including breastfeeding the child. The family has been forced to feed the baby on cow’s milk and millet porridge despite struggling to meet even their own basic needs.
With no stable source of income, Tukamuhebwa says caring for Grace and the infant has become an overwhelming challenge. She is appealing for government intervention and support from humanitarian organizations and well-wishers, saying vulnerable families need more than sympathy, they need practical assistance.
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Disability rights advocates say Grace’s story reflects a much larger problem of inadequate protection for persons with disabilities, especially women and girls, who continue to face abuse with little accountability for perpetrators.
Twesigye Leopold, a representative of Disability Sign World (DSW), condemned the alleged sexual assault, saying stronger measures are needed to prevent violence against persons with disabilities and to ensure survivors receive justice and long-term support.
While DSW has provided limited assistance to the family, Leopold says civil society organizations cannot meet the growing demand on their own. He called on the government to strengthen social protection programs, improve access to survivor services, and ensure law enforcement agencies thoroughly investigate cases involving persons with disabilities.
He also urged community leaders to play a more active role in protecting vulnerable people and reporting suspected abuse before it escalates.
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As Grace’s family struggles to raise her newborn, the case raises broader questions about whether existing systems are doing enough to protect persons with disabilities from sexual violence, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable.
For the family, the hope is that Grace’s experience will not only attract immediate assistance but also spark action to better protect others living with disabilities from similar abuse. Members of the public wishing to support the family can do so through mobile number 0772778858, registered in the names of Owembabazi Phiona.
