Not yet time for woman president- Minister

The state minister in charge of privitisation, Evelyn Anite. Photos by Francis Emorut

The state minister in charge of privitisation, Evelyn Anite has blasted the former ethics and integrity Mira Matembe over advocating that Uganda is ready for a woman president so as to deliver social services effectively and efficiently.

"Right now Uganda should be ready to test a woman to be a president," Matembe said.
Matembe argued that at the moment the governance structures at the top are male dominated that is why service delivery in the health and education sectors are poor.

"I want to see a time when a woman is a president of Uganda. Let's vote this woman as a president because she is intelligent and I am capable to contest as a president," Matembe told university students drawing a thunderous applause.

Miria Matembe

The former minister was speaking during the launch of young women leaders' mentorship programme and training of 60 university students at Arch Apartments and Hotel in Kampala on Friday.

The launch was organized by the Centre for Women in Governance aimed at encouraging university students to take up leadership positions at all levels.

In the United States Hillary Clinton a Democrat is contesting for the highest office against Donald Trump a Republican to replace President Barack Obama who leaves in January. If Clinton wins the November elections she would be the first woman president in the US.

The fiery politician argued that if social service delivery is to improve in the country then it is high time Ugandans placed their hope in a woman president.

"If you want to improve education and health in this country decisions are made at a political level that's why a woman president is critical to influence decisions at a higher level of governance. The women who are now there are there for their own stomachs and not for the people," she said.

When contacted Anite advised Matembe to focus her energy on addressing HIV/AIDS prevention and how to create employment for the young people.

"Matembe as a mature politician should focus on advising young people on employment opportunities and not politicking all the time," Anite told New Vision.

The youthful minister appealed to Matembe to stop politicking since we have just had elections in February and Museveni declared a winner with 60.7% while his closest rival FDC's Kizza Besigye got 35.7%.

"It is not time to talk about whether Uganda is ready for a woman president," she said.
Matembe encouraged young women to be women of integrity and avoid greed and take up leadership positions at different levels be it in economy, politics, health and education among others.