Women activists condemn pornographic leaks

By Jacquiline Emodek

A top official with the women’s council has decried the recent spike in pornographic acts in the country, warning that such acts only taint the image and dignity of women. 

Hellen Grace Asamo, the vice chairperson of the National Women’s Council (NWC) said there is need for the vice to be checked and perpetrators prosecuted.

“Of late there has been circulation of nude pictures in electronic media and unfortunately these only show women and girls as an indicator that they are being perpetuated by some men. Thorough investigation into this should be done and the culprits be brought to book,” Asamo said.

Lately there has been an increase in leaked sex-tapes and nude pictures, particularly of female celebrities going viral on social media, raising concern among sections of the public. Most of the material, she contends, is leaked by male sexual partners.

She however noted that with only days left to the commemoration of International Women’s Day, women in Uganda are still faced with challenges, making them less privileged, a situation that needs to be addressed.

The challenges she noted among others include high poverty rates due to limited access to factors of production and high levels of school dropouts among girls. 

“There are also high levels of violence against women, forced and early marriages coupled with rape and defilement that sometimes lead to death of women and girls,” she noted.

Pauline Kirasha the acting chairperson emphasized the need to increase women’s accessibility to markets so as to empower them economically and consequently households. 

“There is an urgent need to establish a women entrepreneurship fund where women can access funding on a payback basis,” Kirasha argued.

However the council also highlighted the achievements Uganda has made in closing the gender gap.

“In the last three decades we have seen the introduction of Universal Primary and Secondary education, affirmative action in higher institutions of learning, appointment of women in cabinet positions and gender sensitive laws,” Asamo noted.

The Women’s Day celebrations will be held in Kabale under the theme: Empowerment of women and girls is progress for all; the three decades of gains for Ugandan women and girls.

“On this day we shall reflect on the gains made by the government, individuals and ordinary women in ensuring empowerment of women and girls in Uganda in the last three years,” Asamo said.

President Yoweri Museveni is expected to be the chief guest. A number of activities are also lined up for the women’s week which will last from March 1–7.

“We shall have media shows, community dialogues, women’s conferences, health camps, mobilization and sensitization in Kabale," Kirasha said.