Gender imbalance still plagues government

The MP said most women prefer to contest on the affirmative action ticket because they don’t usually get the support from both men and women when they contest in constituencies.

“It is a perception issue that we must address because if every woman voted for a fellow woman, given that 50 per cent of the population is made up of women, half of the parliamentarians we have today would be women,” she added.
The MDG report shows for example that the share of women in wage employment in the non agricultural sector stands at 35 per cent compared to 53.3 per cent for males.

Another area of concern is the military. Uganda does not have a single female army general, with Col. Prossy Nalwesiyo standing as the highest decorated woman in the UPDF.

Army and Defence Spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye moved to defend the startling statistic and said: “Those who were senior to Col. Nalweyiso either died or took on a political path outside the military.”

Reducing imbalances
He cited the likes of Janat Mukwaya and Getrude Njuba who have since joined active politics following their exploits in the 1980’s bush war struggle.
However, the government has and continues to use the policy of affirmative action to reduce gender imbalances in several areas like higher education, governance, politics, and management.

From 1990 when the affirmative action policy was introduced in favour of women seeking admission at universities and other tertiary institutions, the number of female students enrolled in these institutions increased from 31 per cent in 1993/94 to 42 per cent by 2004.

In primary teacher colleges, women numbers also went up to 48 per cent of the total student population by 2003. Ms Brenda Kugonza, the advocacy officer at the Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention says government has scored well in terms of promoting the rights of women and their participation in politics and social economic development.

Women activists are hoping that the Domestic violence Bill that was passed in November 2009 will help end violence in homes, especially against women and girls.

But Kaberamaido Woman MP Florence Ekwau insists women do not have much to celebrate in terms of equality and empowerment especially in the rural areas.
“We are still very far from achieving equality.

Women are still being manipulated by men, they have no voice in homes, they don’t own land and many are still dying just because they are not empowered,” she said.
Ms Ekwau said even though some women hold top positions in public offices, it just represents a drop in the ocean. “What is the use of giving one top job to a woman and another 20 to men? How many women district chairpersons or Resident District Commissioners do we have,” she asked.

Women in top posts by numbers

• Top women army officers
  1.Col Prossy Nalweyiso, President’s Military Assistant
  2.Lt Col. Rebecca Mpagi, Director of Women Affairs
  3.Lt Col. Annette Nkalubo, UN Mission
  4.Lt. Col. Birabwa, Sen. Nursing Officer
  5.Maj. Sarah Mpabwa, Army MP
  6.Maj. Nekesa, President’s Physician
  7.Maj. Jane Mukasa, head of training, directorate of women affairs (commanded parade in Ishaka, Bushenyi yesterday)

• Top women cabinet ministers
  1.Syda Bumba (Finance)
  2.Hope Mwesigye (Agriculture)
  3.Geraldine Bitamazire (Educ)
  4.Janat Mukwaya (Gen. Duties)
  5.Kabakumba Masiko (Information)
  6.Beatrice Wabudeya (Presidency)
  7.Dorothy Huhya (Without Portfolio)
  8.Maria Mutagamba (Water)

• Ministers of State
  1.Janet Museveni (Karamoja)
  2.Ruth Nankabirwa (Microfinance)
  3.Sezzi Mbaguta (Public Service)
  4.Jennifer Namuyangu (Water)
  5.Rukia Chekamondo (Privatisation)
  6.Jessica Eriyo (Environment)
  7.Rukia Nakadama (Gender and Culture)
  8.Jessica Alupo (Youth Affairs)

• Top women police officers
  1.Jessica Oridoyo (Assistant IGP)
  2.Elizabeth Muwanga (Director of Welfare)
  3.Oliver Wabwire, (RPC)
  4.Alison Agaba (RPC)
  5.Teddy Nabirye (Acting
  Commissioner)
  6.Grace Akullo (Head Serious
  Crime CID)
  7.Annet Nabagala (Head of Protocol)
  8.Judith Nabakooba (Head of PR)

Compiled by Andrew Bagala and Emmanuel Gyezaho