UWOPA embarks on mentoring women in politics

By Francis Emorut                                                    

Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) is setting out to mentor women in politics and encourage them to aim at top leadership positions countrywide.

The association’s chairperson, Betty Amongi spoke of the need for women to take up key roles.

“We need women to be in the mainstream and become secretary generals, treasurers and not deputies because it’s the main stream that influences decisions,” she said.

The Oyam South MP disclosed that the mentoring programme will start next month, targeting 14 sub-regions in the country.

This was during regional women in politics conference held at Pearl Afrique Hotel in Gulu district.

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The conference took place in Gulu. PHOTO/Francis Emorut

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Lina Zedriga, the former chief magistrate (left) and Gulu LC5 chairperson Martin Ojara Mapenduzi. PHOTO/Francis Emorut

The conference, organized by Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), aimed at developing a strategy for the integration of women’s agenda into government political processes.

The programme will also particularly target those women who want to contest direct elections for parliamentary seats and local councils without riding on affirmative action.

Amongi maintained there is need to engage local government authorities to ensure that women also win contracts that have been dominated by men.

She believes women’s involvement in high-level leadership positions will make some health care facilities that are not functional to function.

“We need to make health care systems in this country function,” she said.

Other areas of women involvement should include designing of programmes and dispensing of justice without fear or favour, she recommended.

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Lina Zedriga chats with Yumbe secretary for finance Jane Alejo and an official from Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) Maureen Kangere. PHOTO/Francis Emorut

‘Stereotyped’ court system

Also, the MP observed that the LC1 court system of adjudication discourages women from seeking redress in the LCI courts for cases of domestic violence but rather through clan leaders or elders of the communities.

Studies, she said, have shown that most women who go to LCI courts to seek redress are advised to go to clan elders and yet evidence is supposed to be gathered within 24 hours in sexual offences such as rape and defilement.

“The LCI court system, in handling domestic violence cases, is still stereotyped,” she said.

Gulu LC5 chairperson Martin Ojara Mapendunzi agreed with Amogi’s remarks, particularly on positioning women into top jobs, saying they are dependable.

“Women have proven to be successful in managing business, building bridges in terms of creating relationship and reconciliation and therefore, it’s my prayer that the next LC5 chairperson for Gulu be a woman,” he said.

Teargasing activists like ‘cockroaches’

A former Chief Magistrate Lina Zedrida said: “We want women to be on the table and not on the menu to discuss about power.”

Rosalba Oywa, a retired civil servant said women were capable of being in the top echelons of power but was angry with the Police for always using teargas to disperse women activists and opposition demonstrations.

“Law enforcing agencies especially the Police are always teargasing people as if they are cockroaches. It pains me and at the end of the day our children will continue to suffer. This thing must stop,” said Oywa.

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Retired civil servant Rosalba Oywa feels the police should be more tolerant to women activists. PHOTO/Francis Emorut

Betty Byanyima, who is a consultant, implored women to ensure that the Women’s Agenda 2010-2016 is achieved to shape the country’s destiny.

According to the agenda, women can play a pivotal role as democracy and governance, economic empowerment, human rights and the law, health, education and environment.

The agenda also involves peace, human security and dignity, women special needs, information communication technology, Uganda in regional and international context and institutional mechanisms for the achievement of gender equality.