Gender imbalance still plagues government

The advent of a new Uganda Constitution in 1995 came with a bounty for women in the country. For the first time in generations, women would be invited to sit on the country’s male-dominated political tables in what sparked Uganda’s remarkable journey towards gender parity.

Uganda took a bold step to protect the rights of groups of people who had been marginalised, especially women, by including an affirmative-action provision in the Constitution.

Questions
The Local Government Act 1997 then laid the foundation for the inclusion of women in the government’s decision making structures, by specifying that women councillors must form at least one-third of the membership of all local government councils.

But as the country marked the International Women’s Day yesterday, questions continued to abound as to just how much progress has been recorded in the struggle for gender equity.

A 2007 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) mid term report on Uganda’s performance on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) shows that the country is on track to achieve its target on gender equality and empowerment of women by 2015 even though the progress has been hampered by several setbacks including a high drop out rate of girls from school.

However, by 2006 alone, enrolment of the girl child in schools had spiked from 44.2 per cent in 1990 to 49.8 per cent by 2006, thanks in large part to the introduction of free primary school education.

“Reasons for the narrowing of the gender gap in enrolment include enlightenment, affirmative action, and most importantly to the introduction of UPE at the primary school level that has specific provisions to address gender and other inequities,” the report reads in part.

The report also concluded that a portion of girls who get enrolled in school drop out before completing primary, accounting for 43 per cent of total enrollment compared to a 35percent drop-out rate among boys.

Many girls drop out of schools for various reasons including financial difficulties, family responsibilities, early marriage and pregnancy. Experts have pointed out that for government to end the cycle of male-domination, conditions must be set to improve the environment in which the girl child studies. Girls must remain in school until they complete secondary school education.

Women in politics
However, statistics show more women today directly participate in the democratic process of the country, as Uganda records a spike in the numbers of women who hold political office.

In Parliament for instance, there are a total of 102 female MPs. At Local Government, at least one third of all posts are occupied by women, even though each local council has a post for secretary of women affairs, a reserve for the women. Coming into power 24 years ago, President Museveni has spent much of his reign creating a favourable environment for women’s organisations to thrive and ensured that more women get appointed to the same top government positions as men.

History maker
Uganda inked her name in the African history books in 1994 following the appointment of Specioza Wandera Kazibwe as Vice President. At the time, she was the first woman in Africa to assume that office.

Justice Leaticia Kikonyongo then walked in the same path following her appointment as Deputy Chief Justice. Several women then found their place in Cabinet and other top civil service jobs.

But despite these achievements, women and gender activists say equality in employment and leadership positions for women have not been equal to that of men.
Pader Woman MP Franca Akello told Daily Monitor yesterday that Uganda has not made “real” progress in uplifting women because most of them hold top jobs because of policies like affirmative action.

“If you look at the majority of women we have in Parliament and at the local council level, they are there because of affirmative action. Does it mean that we would not have all these numbers if we didn’t have this policy in place?” she asked.