Female MPs seek gender inclusion in district budgets
MP Rosemary Nyakikongoro (R) consults fellow legislators, NamukwayaBugembe (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 , Daily Monitor
Women legislators under their umbrella
association, the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), and the Forum
for Women in Democracy (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, supported by FOWODE in August
2012, to ascertain how gender
mainstreaming activities are being financed at the district and municipality,
noted that since the districts cannot generate enough revenue, government
should allocate more resources to ensure that gender activities are
prioritised.
SUMMARY:THE APPEAL: Women legislators have recommended an increase in the budget allocation by government to finance gender
“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 to districts is conditional 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 a position to utilise the little resources that they have to plan for gender
activities,” Ms. Nyakikongoro added.
Kyenjojo
District Woman MP Flavia Rwabuhoro Kabahenda said there must be inclusiveness
and effective participation of women in every development agenda.
FOWODE’s
Program Officer for Gender Budgeting, Esther 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.
“There is also need for capacity building for
technical people because they must also be in a 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.
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 Bikorwenda, said women’s representation in leadership
positions at the district has remained at a small percentage as women were not
being trained to be on an equal footing with men.
“We
are having a few women in leadership and when it comes to budgeting, they do
not have the numbers to negotiate for a decent budget,” Ms. Bikorwenda said.
mnalugo@ug.nationmedia.com
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