Female MPs seek gender inclusion
MP Rosemary Nyakikongoro (R) consults fellow legislators, Namukwaya Bugembe (C) and Evelyn Kabule (L) recently. Women legislators have asked government to allocate more resources to the districts to finance gender activities as a way of checking gender inequalities. PHOTO BY GEOFFREY SSERUYANGE
What you need to know:
The appeal. Women legislators have recommended for more budget allocation by government to finance gender activities at the district level as a way of checking gender inequalities.
Women legislators under their umbrella association, the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), and the Forum for Women in Development (Fowode), have appealed to government to allocate more resources to districts to finance women activities as a way of checking gender inequalities.
The legislators, during a tour of Lyantonde District to ascertain how gender mainstreaming activities are being financed at the district and municipality on Wednesday, noted that since the districts cannot generate enough revenue, government should allocate more resources to ensure that gender activities are prioritised.
“Since most districts cannot raise enough locally generated funds, government should send adequate resources to fund activities for women, youth and children. The money being sent at districts is conditional grant and the Ministry of Gender budget is also limited,” said Ms Rosemary Nyakikongoro (Woman, Sheema), also UWOPA vice chairperson.
The legislators noted that due to inadequate funding, the districts do not prioritise funding women, youth and children activities.
“There is also need for capacity building for technical people because they must also be in position to utilise the little resources that they have to plan for gender activities,” Ms Nyakikongoro added.
Ms Grace Namara, the area MP, said government must create a special budget line to finance gender activities to empower the women and improve on their house hold incomes.
Kyenjojo District Woman MP Flavia Rwabuhoro Kabahenda said there must be inclusiveness and effective participation of gender in every development agenda.
Fowode’s Advocacy Officer Easter Nabwire said they are working hard to ensure that women, youth and children, who are the less privileged, get better education and access health facilities.
The municipality leadership noted that whereas budgets have been drawn to cater for women, youth and children, there is limited funding to implement their activities.
Lyantonde Town clerk Martin Ssentongo admitted that gender activities were not being prioritised due to the limited budget.
“We have to maintain roads and collect garbage so by the time we think about gender, the money is over,” Mr Ssentongo said.
The outgoing RDC, Ms Ida Korenda, said women representation in leadership positions at the district has remained at a small percentage as women were not being trained to be at equal footing with men.
“We are having a few women on the leadership and when it comes to budgeting, they do not have the numbers to negotiate for a descent budget,” Ms Korenda said.
