Parties asked to prioritize women issues

Jul 09, 2015

WOMEN activists are demanding political parties prioritize women''s concern and needs that have been set in the women manifesto 2016/21 and developed through a participatory process

By Violet Nabatanzi

 

WOMEN activists are demanding political parties prioritize women's concern and needs that have been set in the women manifesto 2016/2021.

 

The women's manifesto was developed through a participatory process led by the Women's Democracy Group last year. The women conducted consultations in 50 districts with the women councilors, civil society organizations, political party officials, and development partners.

 

Rita Aciro the executive director of Uganda women's movement network (UWONET) said that the women manifesto issues should be looked into ahead of 2016 general elections.

 

"We the women of Uganda are more determined today than ever before that after 20 years of the Beijing declaration and the existence of the Ugandan constitution, we will be watching, participating and very importantly voting carefully for leaders who will not only include these issues and concerns in their manifestos but make the implementation a reality," she added.

 

Among the women demands in their manifesto are, increased funding to the health sector to improve women's health and attract more health workers.

 

They also call for increased number of women in political leadership at all levels to at least 50 % representation.

 

The women also asked for establishment of a land fund to enable them own and control land. Currently only 27 % of the registered land is owned by women. Although 70 percent of the women are engaged in agriculture, less than 20 % control outputs from their efforts.

 

The manifesto aims at persuading government, political parties and organizations to prioritize people centered democracy and interests of women in the development process.

 

"It is only protecting women's land rights that their productivity can increase and in turn the health and wellbeing of the family will improve," Aciro noted.

 

The speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga who was represented by Oyam County South MP Betty Amongin said; the manifesto should guide political parties on women's agenda.

 

"We must work with elected political leaders to fight for these ideas in the manifesto. We must organize ordinary people who will force politicians to answer key questions embedded in this manifesto during their campaigns across the country," she said.

 

Dr Busingye Kabumba from Makerere University said; as long as women are not well represented the decisions made by the National executive committees will be problematic.

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