![]() ![]() International and regional legal instruments classify female circumcision as a human rights violation, with over 200 million girls and women across the world estimated to have undergone the practice. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines female circumcision as ‘all actions involving injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This calls for intensified awareness of the population on the challenges associated with female circumcision refusal while demonstrating the positive experiences mentioned by uncircumcised women, that can be exploited as the beacon of hope. Uncircumcised Pokot women continue to experience unbearable challenges since female circumcision is perceived as the only rite of passage to womanhood. Sexual enjoyment during sexual intercourse, epitomized by the ease of reaching orgasms, fewer complications while giving birth as well as reduced risk of exposure to sexually transmitted diseases were mentioned by participants as their positive experiences. Denial of participation in community and cultural functions, rejection by elders and relatives, difficulties in getting marriage partners, denial of conjugal rights and basic needs, refusal to give names to their children, and home desertion were the negative experiences reported by uncircumcised women. Participants expressed understanding of female circumcision, and the procedure although they were not circumcised. Participants were allocated codes to ensure anonymity. Uncircumcised women were recruited using respondent-driven sampling while key informants were purposively selected. A Focus Group Discussion with women, irrespective of their circumcision status, was organized as an entry point to identify the initial uncircumcised woman. ![]() Five Key Informant Interviews were also conducted with key informants from Amudat District. The study was based on thirty serial interviews with 15 uncircumcised women in the Pokot local language between August and October 2021. This qualitative study adopted an ethnographic research design. This paper explores the lived experiences of uncircumcised Pokot women, as they continue to live in a community, where the practice is cherished. Female circumcision remains a dominant practice among the Pokot of North-Eastern Uganda. ![]()
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