Women activists say no to kisanja
Dec 01, 2004
Are women falling out with President Yoweri Museveni? Recently, 18 high-profile women activists went to Parliament to oppose the lifting of the presidential term limit, popularly known as kisanja (dry banana leaves.
Alice Emasu
Are women falling out with President Yoweri Museveni? Recently, 18 high-profile women activists went to Parliament to oppose the lifting of the presidential term limit, popularly known as kisanja (dry banana leaves.
Led by the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), an advocacy and lobbying coalition of national women’s organisations, institutions and individuals in Uganda, the activists shocked the country when they opposed the kisanja.
They argued that amending the constitution to allow Museveni another term in office would undermine respect for constitutionalism, which in turn would mean the constitutional provisions which protect women might easily be scrapped or altered in future.
Jackie Asiimwe Mwesigwa, a lawyer, says although many women admire Museveni and would give him their votes for another term, they would not want to violate the presidential term limit provision of the constitution.
“Many women like Museveni. But what if a monster like Idi Amin (former Uganda’s president) assumes state power after we have shown no respect for the constitution by supporting kisanja?â€
Solome Kimbogue, acting co-ordinator of UWONET, says during their consultative meetings recently financed by Frederick Ebert Stiftung (FES) in 26 districts, many women leaders said they fear intimidation and harassment which explains why they have not openly opposed ekisanja.
The women, like men, she says, have the right to declare their fears and what they support about a political system without any fear of being intimidated. “Many rural women lack confidence to give their opinion on ekisanja,†says Kimbongue adding that women activists realised there were issues of their emancipation that Museveni, as an individual, could not grant them because they are institutional matters.
Kimbogue says women want leaders to respect the constitution.
Without the culture of respect of the constitution, she says, there will be nothing like good governance and democracy in Uganda. Today it is kisanja, tomorrow it may be affirmative action provisions repealed,†she said. Hajat Janat Mukwaya, justice and constitutional affairs minister differs from the views of the activist.
She argues that they don’t necessarily represent the views of majority women. “The activist are entitled to their views but there is no common position from women on ekisanja. I have consulted with my constituency and women have varying views about the matter.â€
It is a bumpy ride to emancipation but Ugandan women have scored some success, which according to the activists, could be lost by supporting kisanja. Their view is a departure from a popular view held by many Ugandans that the women, who constitute more than half of the countries estimated to be 25 million, are inseparable from Museveni.
For many rural women, government policy of Universal Primary Education (UPE) is seen as Museveni’s effort to emancipate them. Traditionally, women shoulder the burden of the education of children. With UPE, the enrolment of children is 7.3 million, from 2.7 million, eight years ago. Economically, many women are engaged in income-generating activities, a progress they attribute to Museveni.
Many grassroots women have been mobilised into groups to access loans as start-up funds for their businesses. State minister for gender Sam Bitangaro says many women associate their emancipation with Museveni because its promotion received a strong foundation from his government.
Giving an example of Dr. Specioza Kazibwe, the former vice president, Bitangaro said Museveni has given his personal backing to improve the living conditions of most women in the country. In a paper, “Gender analysis of the White Paper (WP): Assessing its implications on women’s political participation in Uganda,†submitted to the legal and parliamentary committee of parliament last month, the activists assert that they see sense in maintaining the presidential term limit it in accordance with the current constitutional provisions.
They say the practice of changing presidents regularly is in line with the principle of good governance and democracy and will protect the citizens from dictatorship.
The process of amending a constitution is strenuous and expensive, Betty Amongin, woman MP for Apac says. She observes that that if it can be avoided now by opposing the ekisanja, it would protect women from dictators who may want to usurp women’s achievements.
Martin Masiga, national co-ordinator Human Rights Network (HURINET) says the position taken by the activists reflects the growth of the women’s movement in Uganda. “The women’s statement portrays their ability to fight for democracy. It is a departure from reliance on Museveni as an individual.â€
Masiga says that anybody who needs women’s support has to recognise them as an independent and mature constituency. “If the Movement wants the women’s vote, they will have to provide strong support to win the women back,†he says.
Sylvia Tamale, Dean Faculty of Law says the position taken by the women is to ensure democratic rule and they cannot be bribed to change their decision. The activists however, support shifting from Movement to Multi-party politics, saying it would open up space to dissenting and minority voices.
But they object to the government’s proposal to remove the secret ballot for the election of LC1 and LC2 saying adult suffrage does not allow especially, women, to exercise their right of free choice; but are subjected to pressure by spouses, family members and friends to choose a candidate against their will.
For interest group representation, particularly in Parliament, women want a minimum of 40% from 24.6%. The task for ensuring that a common position from women is reached and passed by parliament lies solely in the hands of the MPs, particularly, the women MPs who represent the majority rural women.
Are women falling out with President Yoweri Museveni? Recently, 18 high-profile women activists went to Parliament to oppose the lifting of the presidential term limit, popularly known as kisanja (dry banana leaves.
Led by the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), an advocacy and lobbying coalition of national women’s organisations, institutions and individuals in Uganda, the activists shocked the country when they opposed the kisanja.
They argued that amending the constitution to allow Museveni another term in office would undermine respect for constitutionalism, which in turn would mean the constitutional provisions which protect women might easily be scrapped or altered in future.
Jackie Asiimwe Mwesigwa, a lawyer, says although many women admire Museveni and would give him their votes for another term, they would not want to violate the presidential term limit provision of the constitution.
“Many women like Museveni. But what if a monster like Idi Amin (former Uganda’s president) assumes state power after we have shown no respect for the constitution by supporting kisanja?â€
Solome Kimbogue, acting co-ordinator of UWONET, says during their consultative meetings recently financed by Frederick Ebert Stiftung (FES) in 26 districts, many women leaders said they fear intimidation and harassment which explains why they have not openly opposed ekisanja.
The women, like men, she says, have the right to declare their fears and what they support about a political system without any fear of being intimidated. “Many rural women lack confidence to give their opinion on ekisanja,†says Kimbongue adding that women activists realised there were issues of their emancipation that Museveni, as an individual, could not grant them because they are institutional matters.
Kimbogue says women want leaders to respect the constitution.
Without the culture of respect of the constitution, she says, there will be nothing like good governance and democracy in Uganda. Today it is kisanja, tomorrow it may be affirmative action provisions repealed,†she said. Hajat Janat Mukwaya, justice and constitutional affairs minister differs from the views of the activist.
She argues that they don’t necessarily represent the views of majority women. “The activist are entitled to their views but there is no common position from women on ekisanja. I have consulted with my constituency and women have varying views about the matter.â€
It is a bumpy ride to emancipation but Ugandan women have scored some success, which according to the activists, could be lost by supporting kisanja. Their view is a departure from a popular view held by many Ugandans that the women, who constitute more than half of the countries estimated to be 25 million, are inseparable from Museveni.
For many rural women, government policy of Universal Primary Education (UPE) is seen as Museveni’s effort to emancipate them. Traditionally, women shoulder the burden of the education of children. With UPE, the enrolment of children is 7.3 million, from 2.7 million, eight years ago. Economically, many women are engaged in income-generating activities, a progress they attribute to Museveni.
Many grassroots women have been mobilised into groups to access loans as start-up funds for their businesses. State minister for gender Sam Bitangaro says many women associate their emancipation with Museveni because its promotion received a strong foundation from his government.
Giving an example of Dr. Specioza Kazibwe, the former vice president, Bitangaro said Museveni has given his personal backing to improve the living conditions of most women in the country. In a paper, “Gender analysis of the White Paper (WP): Assessing its implications on women’s political participation in Uganda,†submitted to the legal and parliamentary committee of parliament last month, the activists assert that they see sense in maintaining the presidential term limit it in accordance with the current constitutional provisions.
They say the practice of changing presidents regularly is in line with the principle of good governance and democracy and will protect the citizens from dictatorship.
The process of amending a constitution is strenuous and expensive, Betty Amongin, woman MP for Apac says. She observes that that if it can be avoided now by opposing the ekisanja, it would protect women from dictators who may want to usurp women’s achievements.
Martin Masiga, national co-ordinator Human Rights Network (HURINET) says the position taken by the activists reflects the growth of the women’s movement in Uganda. “The women’s statement portrays their ability to fight for democracy. It is a departure from reliance on Museveni as an individual.â€
Masiga says that anybody who needs women’s support has to recognise them as an independent and mature constituency. “If the Movement wants the women’s vote, they will have to provide strong support to win the women back,†he says.
Sylvia Tamale, Dean Faculty of Law says the position taken by the women is to ensure democratic rule and they cannot be bribed to change their decision. The activists however, support shifting from Movement to Multi-party politics, saying it would open up space to dissenting and minority voices.
But they object to the government’s proposal to remove the secret ballot for the election of LC1 and LC2 saying adult suffrage does not allow especially, women, to exercise their right of free choice; but are subjected to pressure by spouses, family members and friends to choose a candidate against their will.
For interest group representation, particularly in Parliament, women want a minimum of 40% from 24.6%. The task for ensuring that a common position from women is reached and passed by parliament lies solely in the hands of the MPs, particularly, the women MPs who represent the majority rural women.