Why we should support women's growth in politics

By Teddy Namale

Women’s political participation is no longer an issue of contention as the Constitution gives every woman the right to vote, campaign for elective political office, attend village/ local council meetings and belong to a political party of their choice.

Vibrant women’s political participation in Uganda heightened after the Beijing Conference of 1995. The same year saw the promulgation of Uganda’s Constitution which incidentally is one of the most gender-sensitive constitutions in the world. In addition to providing for the quota system, it dedicates a whole article 33 for the inclusion of women in national governance.

With a provision for affirmative action of at least 30% of women’s representation in Parliament, which is also provided for in the Local Government Act (2007). It should, however, be noted that these provisions did not come on a silver platter but through vigorous advocacy and lobbying by gender responsive individuals and civil society.

This has increased the number of women in politics over the years. Even with this increase, women are still under-represented as they account for over 51% of Uganda’s population yet they are only 34.4% female Members of Parliament in the Ninth Parliament.

Status of women in parliament since 1989 to date

Besides the increased number of female politicians at almost every level, their effectiveness in influencing policy is less felt or at times not felt at all. We have women in power, without power but serving power; this has been attributed to a number of issues.

There is low political will by the leaders to fully realise the potential of women. The affirmative action was largely seen as a token of the current government. It is stated that in the early 1990s, the NRM government prioritised gender equality so that they could be able to get women to rally behind them and that explains why women in rural areas give a block vote to the NRM!

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, once stated that men are chauvinistic and do not want women to be where they are because they think those are men’s jobs.

 Traditional and cultural beliefs as well as societal perceptions still rule the decisions families make in regard to women’s political participation. At times men are reluctant to let their wives, sisters participate in politics for fear of losing control over them.

For the men, the fear that the women in their lives will be taken by other men also worries them thus their indifference towards women being politically involved.

Political party leadership lacks commitment towards supporting women’s full participation in decision making right from the party structures.

The monetisation of politics has not only made it difficult for women to compete favourably in politics, but has also fuelled corruption. Women represent the majority of the agricultural labour force in industry and services, yet they continue to lack access to and control over economic resources such as land.

Apart from the constitutional affirmative action, the number of women contesting for the constituency seats where women compete with men still remains low.

Ugandan women should embrace the constituency seats besides the constitutional affirmative action policy. Let us rise up and support women to take up these seats towards a healthy nation.

For how long shall we remain at the 30% threshhold? We need to see 50/50% representation of women at levels of political life in Uganda!

The writer works at the Centre for Women in Governance