Entebbe-As Uganda’s 9th Parliament edges towards their midterm, Forum for women in Democracy on 2nd-4thFebruary2014 brought together sixteen women members of parliament at Laico, Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe to acquire more skills and knowledge in dialogue about effective legislative engagement in parliament in a bid to boost their representation of women in parliament.
The engagement prudently discussed the selected topics; Taking Stock of Women MPs achievements, challenges and success stories for the period 2012-2013 by Dr Peace Musiimenta, effective representation within a multiparty political dispensation by Dr. Miria Matembe, Communication and Media Engagement as a tool for effective legislative advocacy by Hon. Victoria Sekitoleko and Policy Research Analysis and Advocacy for effective legislators by Mr. Godbar Tumushabe the former ACODE Executive Director.
Dr. Peace Musimenta pointed out a number of achievements, notably; the fact that the first woman speaker is still in the position of speaker in parliament, Isis WICCE collaborated with a number of women organizations to organize a think tank, advocating for gender responsive budgeting and planning in national sectors has improved, rigorous campaigns in cancer screening and sensitization were carried out among others. However, the challenges they face are still immense; patriarchal environment within which they operate, politics of patronage, forms of fraternizing, patronizing, sexist jokes, derogatory sexual identities by the media that describes the women MPs as ‘off-layers’, ‘best-legs’, ‘big bums’ and the tide of tokenism, politicians have become business Men &Women: politics has been commercialized & people join politics not to serve but to eat ”okugwa omubintu”/ “falling into things”, Inadequate gender capacities of Women MPs, culture/tradition and socialization, sexualisation of political space- perceived as sexual networks, patriarchal political environment, politics of patronage, militarism-an ideology of a threat system (“Do what I tell you – or else) and is normalized through language which distorts & sanitizes its impact, wanting to be always be politically correct. However, she said that women were weak in the area of reading and that some disconnected themselves from the women’s movement that left them powerless.
Dr. Peace Musimenta pointed out a number of achievements, notably; the fact that the first woman speaker is still in the position of speaker in parliament, Isis WICCE collaborated with a number of women organizations to organize a think tank, advocating for gender responsive budgeting and planning in national sectors has improved, rigorous campaigns in cancer screening and sensitization were carried out among others. However, the challenges they face are still immense; patriarchal environment within which they operate, politics of patronage, forms of fraternizing, patronizing, sexist jokes, derogatory sexual identities by the media that describes the women MPs as ‘off-layers’, ‘best-legs’, ‘big bums’ and the tide of tokenism, politicians have become business Men &Women: politics has been commercialized & people join politics not to serve but to eat ”okugwa omubintu”/ “falling into things”, Inadequate gender capacities of Women MPs, culture/tradition and socialization, sexualisation of political space- perceived as sexual networks, patriarchal political environment, politics of patronage, militarism-an ideology of a threat system (“Do what I tell you – or else) and is normalized through language which distorts & sanitizes its impact, wanting to be always be politically correct. However, she said that women were weak in the area of reading and that some disconnected themselves from the women’s movement that left them powerless.
Dr. Miria Matembe gave an insightful presentation asserting that the influence of women in political parties in the past could not be easily determined because of the non party political system and yet since the reintroduction of party politics, women have continued to be marginalized and disempowered in the party leadership structures that sideline them when selecting candidates for political offices. She emphasized that for women to be effective, there must be collaboration with their political parties, they must forge alliances with men, calculate and deliberately recruit other women into politics, build coalitions and alliances, build the capacity of women politicians, use media as a tool for advocacy and create a strong women’s movement.
To deliberate further was Dr. Victoria Sekitoleko who in her discussion about the media as an effective tool for legislative advocacy, dug into the basics of communication. She emphasized that branding is vital for women MPs because their brand would in turn be their legacy. They all should single out an issue they stand for and be known country wide for that issue. For instance alias Beatrice Anywar alias Maama Mabira is known for her fights to protect Mabira forest and that is her identity. This implies that they will advocate for that issue in the various policy spaces. With such branding, women issues will be at the forefront on the National Agenda.
Mr. Godber Tumushabe a Law lecturer at Makerere University, in his presentation about Policy Research Analysis and Advocacy for effective legislators, expounded on what it means and takes to be an effective woman leader, he pointed out the importance of nationalism. He encouraged the women leaders to put country first ahead of themselves, their parties, party leaders or even their constituencies, standing up for individual issues as well as their constituencies and also making the toughest choices that may not align with the status quo maybe the way to go for women MPs.
Notably, quoted Colin Powell, the former US secretary of state, to stir up the
To deliberate further was Dr. Victoria Sekitoleko who in her discussion about the media as an effective tool for legislative advocacy, dug into the basics of communication. She emphasized that branding is vital for women MPs because their brand would in turn be their legacy. They all should single out an issue they stand for and be known country wide for that issue. For instance alias Beatrice Anywar alias Maama Mabira is known for her fights to protect Mabira forest and that is her identity. This implies that they will advocate for that issue in the various policy spaces. With such branding, women issues will be at the forefront on the National Agenda.
Mr. Godber Tumushabe a Law lecturer at Makerere University, in his presentation about Policy Research Analysis and Advocacy for effective legislators, expounded on what it means and takes to be an effective woman leader, he pointed out the importance of nationalism. He encouraged the women leaders to put country first ahead of themselves, their parties, party leaders or even their constituencies, standing up for individual issues as well as their constituencies and also making the toughest choices that may not align with the status quo maybe the way to go for women MPs.
Notably, quoted Colin Powell, the former US secretary of state, to stir up the
"Good leadership involves responsibility to the welfare of the group, which means that some people will get angry at your actions and decisions. It's inevitable, if you're honorable. Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity: you'll avoid the tough decisions, you'll avoid confronting the people who need to be confronted, and you'll avoid offering differential rewards based on differential performance because some people might get upset. Ironically, by procrastinating on the difficult choices, by trying not to get anyone mad, and by treating everyone equally "nicely" regardless of their contributions, you'll simply ensure that the only people you'll wind up angering are the most creative and productive people in the organization – Colin Powel"
At the end of the workshop, the all women members of parliament shared their strategies on how they are going to further the Women’s agenda and effectively represent women using the skills and knowledge acquired both in their constituencies and at the national level
Acheng Joy Ruth Member of Parliament of Kole District set specific targets;
“I will meet women councilors by end of February, meet youth leaders by end of April and draw out an effective mobilization strategy and give them feedback on they are being represented. I will then team up with facilitators for skills development in income generating projects for at least four workshops by end of July. I will meet with all the radio stations in the constituency, and NTV, TV West and UBC television for effective image building be end of March.” She said.
By and large, as part of FOWODE strategies to promote women’s participation and gender equality in decision making through enhanced knowledge and skills, FOWODE thought it best to organize this engagement for women parliamentarians under the approach of effective legislative engagement trainingsto enhance their effective legislative engagement.
Acheng Joy Ruth Member of Parliament of Kole District set specific targets;
“I will meet women councilors by end of February, meet youth leaders by end of April and draw out an effective mobilization strategy and give them feedback on they are being represented. I will then team up with facilitators for skills development in income generating projects for at least four workshops by end of July. I will meet with all the radio stations in the constituency, and NTV, TV West and UBC television for effective image building be end of March.” She said.
By and large, as part of FOWODE strategies to promote women’s participation and gender equality in decision making through enhanced knowledge and skills, FOWODE thought it best to organize this engagement for women parliamentarians under the approach of effective legislative engagement trainingsto enhance their effective legislative engagement.
"Although the challenges are enormous, the participation of women in both local and national initiatives is critical and for that reason, FOWODE comes into play to enhance the capacity of women MPs, to be powerful leaders who are effective in bringing change from within the spaces they occupy.”Patricia Munabi the Executive Director FOWODE said."
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