Activists want women issues top on agenda in state of nation address
Jun 04, 2014
With less than 18 hours to go for the State of Nation address, women activists have appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to put women on top of the agenda.
By Francis Emorut
With less than 18 hours to go for the State of Nation address, women activists have appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to put women on top of the agenda.
“We want to see the President addressing issues that affect women such as maternal health, women empowerment and gender equality,” Sophie Kyagulanyi said.
Winnie Banturaki on her part demanded that the state of nation address should give some hope to an ordinary woman who is trying to make ends meet amidst poverty.
The activists made the remarks during a media briefing at Ntinda, a Kampala suburb on Wednesday.
They also want the minister of finance, Maria Kiwanuka in her budget speech on June 12, not to increase taxes on essential commodities such as sugar, soap, paraffin and others.
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Women activists Sophie Kyagulanyi Bakkidde (R) and Milly Tiwangye addressing a press conference in Kampala. PHOTO/Francis Emorut
“We don’t want to a situation where high taxes are levied on basic needs because an ordinary woman can’t afford these items,” Banturaki said.
“We want a balanced budget for pro-poor and the rich.”
The Forum for Women in Democracy expressed their support to the embattled speaker of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Margaret Zziwa who is facing impeachment saying she should not be removed from the top position.
“Our interest is to see women holding top position in power and therefore, Zziwa should not be victimized because she is a woman,” Kyagulanyi said.
She said affirmative action women in top leadership should increase from the current 17% to 52%
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