Recently, a report has surfaced of the coercive practices in Uganda. Men drinking their partners breast milk is a common practice in Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. Studies recently conducted have shown that a link between this practice and gender violence, along with deteriorating health of the upcoming generations. Before Sarah Opendi, Uganda’s minister of state for health, spoke of this issue in parliament it was not commonly known. When drawing attention to this issue, Opendi stated: “a growing culture of men demanding to suckle, which was becoming a problem for some breastfeeding mothers and their babies”. One specific study conducted by Kyambogo University in Kampala and Britain’s University of Kent, focused on the rural Buikwe district where this practice is said to be common. When interviewing anonymized men, they came to the conclusion that although this behavior may be common, it is not socially accepted; it is something done but not spoken of. Their preliminary research also found that it is common for the man to demand to be “fed” before their child is, sometimes for over an hour of time. One man who was interviewed described a feeling of euphoria stemming from this practice, and further stated: “It sustains me, I come home for lunch and it relieves stress in the middle of the working day,”. One theory of the peculiar reasoning behind this behavior is the men believe that their partners breast milk serves a curative power, one that may protect them from contracting HIV, Aids, and cancer. Unfortunately, it seems as though women do not have much choice in this practice. The study found that if the women were to resist, it could result in the women being beaten. Men have been described to become “addicted” to their partners breast milk, and if their partner refuses, it has been a widespread cause of violence and abuse throughout Uganda. I believe that this practice is not only peculiar but dangerous to not only women, but to the babies who are suffering from low nutrient levels because of this practice.
