Matembe is not all that strident about the Movement on women!

SIR— This letter is in response to the one written on Monday August 19th titled “Matembe is shameless ingrate!” Even though there women in positions of power and decision-making, we have not yet “arrived” as far as women’s emancipation is concerned.Among the issues that remain outstanding, as indeed Mrs Matembe points out, are the Domestic Relations Bill, the Equal Opportunities Commission which to date is the only constitutionally mandated commission that has not yet been established; the co-ownership clause, yet to be inserted in the Land Act; the Sexual Offences Bill which has not been debated yet women continue to be sexually violated, among others. Moreover, while affirmative action exists, women in Uganda form 51% of the population; yet we are “happy” that they only make up 34% of the decision-making positions. Why should we settle for less than half of the representative seats if we are more than half the population? I am sure that Matembe, like all women activists, takes cognizance of the changes brought about by the Movement government regarding women; but that does not mean we cannot challenge the Government to go a step further and legislate on other women’s rights. Indeed, the gains in the public sphere are meaningless if women still suffer in the private sphere. To borrow King’s College Budo’s motto, “Gakyali Mabaga” (more is yet to be accomplished).Jacqueline Asiimwe-MwesigeCoordinator UWONET