Women councils still relevant
Jul 10, 2006
<b>By Rose Najjemba</b><br><br>I wish to note that John Kakande’s article in New Vision of July 3 titled “Youth councils irrelevant†was misleading. He claims that the National Women’s Council (NWC) was an integral part of the Movement system.
By Rose Najjemba
I wish to note that John Kakande’s article in New Vision of July 3 titled “Youth councils irrelevant†was misleading. He claims that the National Women’s Council (NWC) was an integral part of the Movement system.
The NWC, although established by this government, was put in place by an Act of Parliament as an autonomous body and therefore not part of the then Movement system.
Kakande says the NWC irrelevant in multiparty democracy. The council was established to groom women to become leaders at different levels. There is a big number of Ugandan women leaders today whose talents have been identified and polished by the NWC.
A number of women who join the LCs at Sub-county and district levels have been in the Women’s Council structure. At national level, we have seen many women politicians in Parliament who have been serving as leaders in the councils.
I am one of the latest entrants as the Chairperson of National Women’s Council and now the MP for Gomba County in Mpigi district where I defeated men due to my exposure, experience and confidence attained as a national leader of the women’s council.
At this time when we are bent on increasing the participation of women in decision making, we need the councils to not only have women views voiced out but be as a training ground for women leaders.
Kakande’s allegation that the introduction of the council strangled NAWOU is not true because Nawou still exists and its an umbrella organisation for women organisations. So Who takes care of women who are not in these organisations?
The NWC is for all women of Uganda and we work with all women organisations. The major difference is that we have the mandate of the people having been elected by them.
I disagree with Kakande when he says that the women’s council has no roles. The council’s mandate is to mobilise women for social, economic and civic development.
Despite financial constraints, we have tried to address the development issues through programmes like microfinance-schemes, promotion of immunisation for children below five years, and women of child bearing age against tetanus toxiode, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, water and sanitation and malaria control.
Government has also continued to send grants to the district women councils although not yet adequate.
Kakande, we need to enhance women’s participation in all spheres of life and NWC will play a leading role for all women of Uganda. However, women are angry that the EC has terminated the council’s term prematurely.
The writer is the out-going chairperson of National Women’s Council and MP for Gomba, Mpigi
I wish to note that John Kakande’s article in New Vision of July 3 titled “Youth councils irrelevant†was misleading. He claims that the National Women’s Council (NWC) was an integral part of the Movement system.
The NWC, although established by this government, was put in place by an Act of Parliament as an autonomous body and therefore not part of the then Movement system.
Kakande says the NWC irrelevant in multiparty democracy. The council was established to groom women to become leaders at different levels. There is a big number of Ugandan women leaders today whose talents have been identified and polished by the NWC.
A number of women who join the LCs at Sub-county and district levels have been in the Women’s Council structure. At national level, we have seen many women politicians in Parliament who have been serving as leaders in the councils.
I am one of the latest entrants as the Chairperson of National Women’s Council and now the MP for Gomba County in Mpigi district where I defeated men due to my exposure, experience and confidence attained as a national leader of the women’s council.
At this time when we are bent on increasing the participation of women in decision making, we need the councils to not only have women views voiced out but be as a training ground for women leaders.
Kakande’s allegation that the introduction of the council strangled NAWOU is not true because Nawou still exists and its an umbrella organisation for women organisations. So Who takes care of women who are not in these organisations?
The NWC is for all women of Uganda and we work with all women organisations. The major difference is that we have the mandate of the people having been elected by them.
I disagree with Kakande when he says that the women’s council has no roles. The council’s mandate is to mobilise women for social, economic and civic development.
Despite financial constraints, we have tried to address the development issues through programmes like microfinance-schemes, promotion of immunisation for children below five years, and women of child bearing age against tetanus toxiode, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, water and sanitation and malaria control.
Government has also continued to send grants to the district women councils although not yet adequate.
Kakande, we need to enhance women’s participation in all spheres of life and NWC will play a leading role for all women of Uganda. However, women are angry that the EC has terminated the council’s term prematurely.
The writer is the out-going chairperson of National Women’s Council and MP for Gomba, Mpigi