'Husband curfew preventing women from campaigning'

Nov 06, 2020

Beatrice Turyagumanawe, an aspirant, said when women go back home beyond the curfew time set by their husbands, they are required to bring their parents to explain why.

POLITICS|CURFEW|WOMEN 

RUKUNGIRI - Women contesting for various political seats in Rukungiri district have said the curfews imposed on them by the Government and their husbands are limiting them during the campaigns.

Women made the remarks on Saturday (October 31, 2020) during a two-day training workshop for women in politics at Okapi Hotel in Rukungiri municipality.

The workshop was organised by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) Rukungiri.

Beatrice Turyagumanawe, who is aspiring to become a district councillor, said the curfew of 9:00 pm imposed by the President was easier than that of their husbands.

"Our husbands set the curfew at 6:00 pm. When you go beyond that time, you have to bring your parents to explain why," she said.

Turyagumanawe said because of this, the men have more time on their hands than the women to campaign. As a result, this makes it hard for women to compete with men for similar political seats.

Jolly Mugume from Karangaro ward said women are vulnerable when they delay in the field looking for votes, even if they do not have curfew. They are prone to be raped during darkness, which makes them fear.

FOWODE trainer Jovent Kinahirwe Abbo said women should embrace the curfew of their husbands because it saves them from many dangers that lurk in the dark.

She said the media is the only answer for women in politics since they cannot go out at night as men do.

Ingrid Turinawe, who is contesting for the Rukungiri Municipality Member of Parliament (MP) seat, said besides the curfew, the major challenge she is facing is the public misconception that she is vying for a position that is for men.

"We need to educate our people to know that a woman, youth, people with disability or elderly can contest for any political seat if they have the qualifications for it," she said.

Winifred Babihuga, who is contesting to become the Rukungiri Woman MP, said there was a need for mature and experienced leaders in Parliament to strengthen laws that are gender-sensitive.

She added that in some other countries, such as Rwanda, the number of women in parliament and cabinet outweighs that of men.

"If our husbands got such training, they would be our guards when we are looking for votes," Phiona Mujuni, an aspirant, said.

She added that some men become delighted when the wife brings bread home, but are not interested in knowing the challenges their wives go through to be a leader.

Rukungiri District Woman MP Betty Muzanira said some women pull down fellow women in politics.

"Some women say men are better leaders than women because the men head homes. This is the reason many men beat women in elections," she said.

FOWODE field co-ordinator Collins Nyangaro said women are doing more productive things than men. Therefore, they should be on top of policymaking at almost every political level.

"When a woman is the political head of a sub-county, she will make sure the policy they make favours women because she knows what a woman will pass through during pregnancy and giving birth," he said.

"A man who has never experienced labour pain may not understand the problem of expectant mothers coming to the health centre and not being attended to," he added.

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