WOMENS DAY: <i>Intimate</i> celebrates women in politics

Mar 08, 2011

A lawyer by profession, Jennifer Kafeza Mujungu stood as an Independent after losing the NRM primaries. She talked to <b>Hope Mafaranga.</b>

Jennifer Kafeza Mujungu, 26
Woman MP, Ntoroko District


A lawyer by profession, she stood as an Independent after losing the NRM primaries. She talked to Hope Mafaranga.

Why did you stand as an independent?
I was cheated. It was so disappointing! My results were exchanged in favour of my opponent, Rose Mugera and she was declared the NRM flag bearer. The NRM officials who conducted the primaries were her relatives. They cheated for her and still she won by only four votes. It was so painful and frustrating. I decided to take her on again. The belief that I had won made me confident that I would win in a free and fair election. I got 8,046 votes (51.15%) against Mugera’s 7,683 votes (48.85%) to claim my stolen victory.

What challenges do women face?
Basically, it is lack of finances. The NRM flag bearers were given over sh20m to campaign. I did not get anything because I was standing as an independent.

Is there a special initiative in the political parties to give women a platform to compete favourably with the men?
Yes, the NRM encourages women to compete for directly elected seats and some women have defeated men. I think this government has lifted women in general.

Do you face hostility, discrimination or intimidation from fellow politicians and party bigwigs?
When I had just started campaigning, flag bearers were intimidating me and calling me a rebel but this ended when President Museveni officially announced that independents were still NRM supporters.

Do you think you will be taken seriously?
People took my manifesto seriously and accepted it. Voters saw that I was capable of leading them out of poverty. My record with people with disabilities and the vulnerable is good.

Anything on relationships?
I have done a lot sensitisation on the dangers of early marriage and defilement. In our community, parents look at girls as a source of wealth and end up forcing them into early marriages. This turns our young girls into sex slaves and denies them happiness.


Vicky Lajara, 26,
Woman MP Lamwo District (FDC)


Any disappointment in politics?
Yes, especially in this year’s elections. My ground was very good and I had many supporters but just before Election Day, things started changing badly because of the NRM. My voters started getting confused, in two sub-counties, people were telling me to step down in favour of one of the candidates, money, salt and some other materials were exchanging hands. They were giving sh5,000 per person. Because I was following the law, I was about to sink. Indirect and underground politics was raging.

As a female politician, did you experience intimidation or discrimination?
Just these Movementists who incite voters against opposition politicians saying we are going to block development. Then the Acholi culture is also a disadvantage.
People first ask: “Where is your husband? Are you married? If you are not married, why are you not married? May be if you get to Parliament you will disappoint us by getting married elsewhere.” But my male counterparts do not get these questions.

What has FDC done to empower you women to compete favourably?
The party is trying hard to equip the female party members at all levels. We have got lots of training with financial support from the Conservative Party in the UK. Out of 10 members who were picked for the training, six of them were female. So I benefited from those training.

Were you given the same financial support as your male counterparts?
The party had an affirmative action by which we women got free posters, nomination fees and other financial support. The males got something too but FDC’s priority was the women, because our finances are limited.

Interview by Wokorach-Oboi


Deogracious Munguriek
Lost Nebbi Woman MP Seat


Munguriek Deogracious aspired twice to be the Woman MP for Nebbi district in 2006 and 2011 on the FDC ticket and lost both times. She talked to Benedict Okethwengu.

Any disappointments?
The current politicking in Uganda is such that if you don’t have money you cannot win an election.

Any hostility or discrimination?
Yes. But what was happening was a fight because FDC and NRM behaved like co-wives living in one house. Last year, when I went to the office of the Nebbi Resident District Commissioner to find out whether my father, who was ex-service man, was on the pension list, Lt. Col. Alicama, the West Nile reserve force commander, assaulted me. He kicked me, saying he did not want opposition members to go to their office. I felt humiliated and intimidated.

Any challenges as women politicians?
The major one is getting finance. Men find it easier.

Did FDC facilitate you as a woman?
We were given money for nomination, and other things. Men did not get as much.

Any message for women who want to join politics?
Women should play an active role in politics if they want their issues addressed. All the scandals in this country would not be happening if women were in charge. A woman would not allow money meant for drugs to be stolen.


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