The multi-party political dispensation is hindering advancement of women issues in Parliament and is one of the inhibitors to achieving substantial gains, women legislators have said.
Uganda Parliament
The women legislators under their umbrella body, the Uganda women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), expressed concern that they are constrained in their work to push for the women’s cause by the requirement to abide by their parties’ positions.
“Because the party brought you to Parliament it can discipline you if you go against its position,” Kole District Woman MP, Ruth Acheng said at a high level dialogue on “Leadership with a Difference” organised by Isis-Women’s International Cross Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE) held in Kampala.
Grace Isingoma (Isingiro) said, “The Multi-party dispensation has affected our participation.” She said that at times women MPs appreciate contribution by their colleagues from other political parties, but cannot come up to support them openly for fear of the consequences.
Citing the stalled Marriage and Divorce Bill, the women legislators accused male MPs of fighting them. They also cited disunity amongst themselves as the other challenge. They did not spare women ministers, whom they accused of not working with them to advance the women’s agenda.
The MPs were discussing presentations by Associate Prof. Josephine Ahikire of the School of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University. She made a presentation on the topic, “Towards women’s substantive engagement in politics; Are we making a difference?” They discussed achievements, challenges and proposed a way forward.
Serere district Woman MP and Secretary General Forum for Democratic Change Alaso, however advised her colleagues to have courage to do what they chose to do. She for instance asked them to state which party has said it will not support maternal health. She noted that it is individuals in the parties who make statements and members take them to be party positions.
Speaking about challenges in her party she used the opportunity to inform the MPs that she is still the secretary general in FDC and is going nowhere.
Lucy Ajok (Apac) said for them in opposition, one can complete his or her term in Parliament without meeting President Yoweri Museveni simply because they are in opposition. “We need an inclusive way of working together.”
The women MPs who represent districts, complained that their constituencies are too big compared to those of male MPs. “We have a heavier burden than men in Parliament,” Emma Boona (Mbarara) said.
“We thought that when the number of women ministers is increased it would be of benefit-so that we are closer to the national cake, but it is not like that,” Boona said.
However, Kabakumba Masiko (Bujenje) defended finance minister Maria Kiwanuka saying the budget she reads is the president’s budget, which she reads on his behalf.
The MPs noted that they need a collective voice to advocate for women, a common interest as well as bringing male MPs on board.
They urged civil society organisations to work together with them particularly on the area of research.
Present was Isis-WICCE’s Executive Director, Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng.
By Joyce Namutebi, The New Vision
