'Property': Girls push for Fik Fameica's song ban

RIGHTS

KAMPALA - A group of teenage girls from across the country have petitioned the Ministry of Information and National Guidance, calling for the immediate ban of a song by Ugandan musician Walukagga Shafik, better known by his stage name Fik Fameica.

In the musical production titled 'Property', women are depicted as property, sukaali (sugar), chapatti and yoghurt.

In her presentation, student Fatiah Naigaga from Kamuli Progressive College said the song undermines women and sends a negative message to the public.

"These are part of the negative media messages that influence and portray women and girls as mere objects. This should stop if the country wants to attain equal space for both boys and girls," she urged.

The girls made the presentation before the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, at the Plan International official launch of the Girls Get Equal Campaign in Kampala on Friday.

Speaker Kadaga launched the National Girls Get Equal Campaign

Naigaga told Kadaga the campaign is aimed at fighting negative norms, beliefs, perceptions and practices.

"We are concerned about the cultural biasness that manifested and reproduced generations in the perceptions, values and beliefs like ‘girls have no future', ‘girls are weak-minded', ‘girls have soft hearts therefore they are indecisive', no matter the level of education a woman goes, she will end up in the kitchen'."

On her part, Kadaga pledged commitment to support the initiative and also work with other arms of government on the rights of the girl child and young women.

"We are going to fasttrack the passing of the Sexual Offences Bill, 2015, subject to the amendments proposed by the various stakeholders," she told the group.

The Speaker said they are to strengthen the national co-ordination mechanism for the different government ministries, department and agencies to effectively prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

Girls groups and a brass band took part in the caravan drive

Plan International acting country director Greg Lavender said the Girls Get Equal Campaign seeks to challenge the status quo of young women and girls.

"The campaign offers a real opportunity to drive lasting change for girls' rights and equality, and to not only bring transformative change for girls, but also contribute holistically to national development," she said.

The drie had a two-week caravan traversing parts of Uganda aimed at changing  the way girls are valued in society so that they no longer have to face injustice, oppression, discrimination or stereotypes that pull them down.

The caravan made stop-overs in eight districts: Kamuli, Tororo, Lira, Adjumani, Yumbe, Arua, Nebbi and Kampala.

The Girls Get Equal Campaign is spearheaded by Plan International Uganda