Female MPs protest demeaning utterances levelled at them 

Mar 14, 2017

Parliament was forced to demand the impugned video clip in which Charles Rwomushana made unflattering comments about female lawmakers

Lira Woman MP, Joy Atim made a passionate address on the floor of Parliament.

Lawmakers are baying for the blood of outspoken social critic and media commentator Charles Rwomushana for allegedly referring to their female colleagues as "prostitutes" during a TV talk show last week.

Lira Woman MP, Joy Atim told a charged House that Rwomushana's comments about women lawmakers denigrates all Ugandan women and undermines the progress made in the struggle to help more women get out of the shadows of a patriarchal society. 

"If all women MPs are prostitutes, it means that you Mr. Speaker, you're presiding over a House of prostitutes, that the speaker, a woman, is a prostitute that the Leader of Opposition, a woman, is a prostitute and Government Chief Whip, a woman, is a prostitute. This is unacceptable," Atim said, demanding that Parliament gives Rwomushana an ultimatum to retract his barbed statements.

According to Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, Parliament's top echelon was forced to demand the impugned video clip from NBS TV on whose talk show Rwomushana made his unflattering comments about female lawmakers.

The talk show which had Democratic Party president, Norbert Mao, government spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo and Masaka Municipality MP, Mathias Mpuuga as panellists was, according to Atim, about the strides made to emancipate women over the years.

Rwomushana is alleged to have launched a scathing attack on Ugandan elite women, especially lawmakers, describing them as "prostitutes" and opportunists with no iota of concern for issues like maternal health affecting disadvantaged women.

According to Atim, when asked to recant his statements, a bullish Rwomushana said that unless given a "more diplomatic and polite word," prostitute was the apt word to describe female lawmakers.

"We have in the past declined to pass the national budget until particular concerns in ministry of health are addressed. We have addressed issues of maternal health in this parliament although many issues still remain unresolved. We cannot be called prostitutes" Atim, a tad emotional added.

Promises by minister for information, Frank Tumwebaze that Uganda Communications Commission (UCC),which has the mandate to impose sanctions for breach minimum broadcasting standards, was handling the matter was received with reservations.  

"The right not to be condemned unheard is a cardinal principal of a fair hearing. UCC is already aware of this complaint and I promise to report to this House expeditiously," Tumwebze said.

However, deputy speaker of parliament, Jacob Oulanyah could have none of it, saying the video clip was enough evidence of the slander committed by Rwomushana against female lawmakers.

MP Medard Sseggona, a lawyer, however raised a red flag, saying failure to follow due process by UCC will give fodder to any aggrieved party to strike down UCC's sanctions in a court of law.

Tumwebaze is expected to give a statement to the House Wednesday about the investigations so far carried out by UCC on the matter.

A former guild president of Makerere University, Rwomushana would go on to make political waves when as a young politician fresh from university he defeated Maj. Gen. Jim  Muhwezi in the race to represent Rujumbura County in the Constituent Assembly. 

Over the years, he has turned out to be a rabble-rouser whose no holds-barred social and political commentary has rubbed many the wrong way. 

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