UCU students want minister punished for ‘equating women to animals in zoos’

Students advocating for Human Rights at Uganda Christian University (UCU) have asked government to punish Tourism state minister, Godfrey Kiwanda for allegedly disrespecting women and reducing them to animals in the zoos.

During the East African Legislative Assembly outreach and sensitization programme at the Mukono based university on Thursday, the students said by launching Miss Curvy, the minister was in a way encouraging abuse of women’s rights and dehumanizing them.

The students led by Mr Allan Kato Mubiru, said they condemn the use of women beauty to boost tourism describing it as a move that reduces women to an object.

"As an activist, we shall not accept this because we still think that women are more than bodies and need respect in any capacity," Mr Mubiru said.

He said the Miss curvy programme is going to lead to prostitution and women will be abused as they will be sold as tourist attractions.

Ms Gladys Mutesi also a student said Mr Kiwanda should be punished for dispecting women and likening them to animals in the zoo.

"How can he compare us to animals? He should not abuse us to that level. Let him think twice," Mutesi said.

Among the other issues raised by students include increasing rape cases in Northern Uganda by refugees. Ronald Komakech a student of Public Administration and Governance said very many women have been raped in areas like in Kitgum District.

“The most worrying part is that no actions are taken apart from only deporting the criminals back to Sudan but women remain crying," Mr Komakech said. He said EALA leaders should play a great role in helping to fight this in northern Uganda.

Mary Mugyenyi, a member of EALA said it is an embarrassment for the whole minister to launch Miss Curvy.

“There is being creative but this kind of creativity of using women bodies is not welcome," Ms Mugyenyi said.

She said the minister is abusing women and they will not terolate the rise of negativity in such a manner.

"We shall not allowed images of women to be used without respect for bodies, we shall speak against it in all capacities," she said.