THE WOMEN'S AGENDA: EQUAL BY RIGHT

THE UGANDA WOMEN’S AGENDA
EQUAL BY RIGHT
2010 - 2016

EQUAL BY RIGHT
Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)
Copyright ©2010
ISBN No: 978 9970 211 02 9
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission
of the Copyright holder.
Published in Uganda
On behalf of The Women’s Movement
By:
Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)
P.O. Box 7176, Kampala
Tel: +256-41-4-286063
Fax: +256-41-4-286029
Email:
fowode@utlonline.co.ug
Website:
www.fowode.org

i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) wishes to acknowledge the
so many women who have made a contribution to the development of the
Uganda Women’s Agenda, Equal by Right: The Uganda Women’s Agenda.
We wish to thank Betty Byanyima who did the initial survey that gathered the
views of women from 22 districts of Uganda and carried out the consultative
meetings that targeted women from religious groups, the elderly, the
academia – teaching and non teaching staff and women in small scale
businesses, all of which formed the basis for this agenda. Appreciation goes
to all the women from whom we gathered views from which this agenda has
been developed. We salute you all.
We would like to further appreciate Solome Nakaweesi Kimbugwe whose
expertise enriched the agenda as she amalgamated all the views into one
document.
We thank the steering committee made up of women from the women’s
movement whose intellect contributed immensely to the shaping of the
Agenda namely Rita Aciro, Josephine Ahikire, Monica Amoding, Jackie
Asiimwe, Thelma Awori, Patricia Munabi Babiiha, Carol Bunga Idembe,
Judy Kamanyi, Solome Nakaweesi Kimbugwe, Peace Kyamureku, Grace
Bantebya Kyomuhendo, Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng, Jane Irama Ocaya,
Robinah Rubimbwa, and Hilda Tadria. We thank all of you for your passion
for women and for volunteering your time to ensure the finalization of the
Agenda. Thanks also go to Jessica Akiiki Horn for suggesting a great title
for the Agenda.
Finally, we appreciate Judy Kamanyi, Betty Byanyima and Patricia Munabi
Babiiha who made a critical input into the editing of the final agenda.
Last but not least, we thank our development partners who have encouraged
and supported us in the development of this agenda.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...................................................................................i
PREFACE ...........................................................................................................iii
PREAMBLE ........................................................................................................vi
1. DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE...........................................................1
2. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT....................................................................7
3. HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE LAW..............................................................13
4. HEALTH .......................................................................................................17
5. EDUCATION ...............................................................................................20
6. ENVIRONMENT..........................................................................................23
7. PEACE, HUMAN SECURITY AND DIGNITY..............................................25
8. WOMEN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ...............................................................27
9. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY.................30
10. INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF GENDER
EQUALITY........................................................................................................33
11. UGANDA IN THE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONTEXTS.....35

iii
FOREWORD
TAKING CHARGE: OUR AGENCY IN REDEFINING
DEMOCRACY IN UGANDA
“Once again we make our voices heard;
Once again we emphasize that we are equal by right;
Once again we claim our position at the center; and
refuse to be kept at the sidelines”
The women of Uganda
As Uganda gears up for the 2011 Presidential and Parliamentary elections
we once again come together to present our concerns and make our
demands known to the political parties, impressing it upon Ugandans, that
real development can only be realized when women’s issues are recognized
as Uganda’s development issues.
In May 2010, Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) embarked on
the development of the women’s agenda with the intention of creating a
tool to inform political parties and other stakeholders about the concerns
of the women of Uganda, detailing what women would like the incoming
Government to address. FOWODE carried out a survey across 22 districts of
Uganda, gathering views from a cross section of women about the challenges
they face and how they can be addressed. These views were shared at a
Women in Politics Conference held in June, 2010 with a cross section of
members of civil society, the academia, women leaders and politicians, from
the key political parties of Uganda, who further input the process. A key
outcome of the discussions was the decision to hold further consultations
with other groups of women that had not been reached.
A series of three consultative meetings were subsequently held with women
representatives from: religious groups, the elderly, the academia – teaching
and non teaching staff and women in small scale businesses. A steering
committee was then set up to synthesize the findings and finalize the
development of the Agenda.
The Production of the Uganda Women’s Agenda is part of a journey that the
women of Uganda and the Women’s Movement have taken since 1996 when
women made history as pioneers of the first highly successful “People’s
Manifesto 1996” followed by “The Women’s Manifesto 2001”. On Uganda’s
return to pluralism in 2005, the women consulted nationally and developed

EQUAL BY RIGHT
a position paper on Government’s White paper on opening up Multipartyism
as well as a set of demands; “Women’s Minimum Demands to Political
Parties and Organizations”. This was subsequently followed by “The Women’s
Manifesto 2006“ These tools were circulated widely and used to engage
political parties to address the demands of women in their manifestos, party
forums and activities.
WHY A WOMEN’S AGENDA?
Creating public awareness about the centrality of women and girls
empowerment in development is an uphill task. Being a woman in Uganda
remains uniquely perilous with women and girls languishing at the bottom
of most social development indicators. This Agenda brings to the forefront
unique gender dimensions that ought to addressed by various actors if real
and meaningful development for the total empowerment of Ugandan women
and girls is to be achieved.
The women’s agenda is important for the following reasons:
• Changing Times, Changing Strokes: Despite the achievements of
the past, new and diverse challenges impacting the advancement of
women, continue to arise such as: waning political will, rise in religious,
economic and cultural influences, weaker states in the developed world,
closing down of political space, discovery of oil resources, and the
global economic crisis. Similarly women’s needs, desires, aspirations
and demands are also ever evolving. The Women’s Agenda articulates
in its “Thematic Pillars” these changing times, bringing to the forefront
key issues prioritized as pivotal to women’s development. The Agenda
further states demands for the “Change we want to see”, thus making
the call for changing strokes, in the next five years and beyond.
• Impacting the past, shaping the future: As Uganda consolidates its
multiparty democratic dispensation, women continue to play a central
role in the unfolding democratic process. They are concerned about
the country’s future, having made a significant contribution to Uganda’s
political past while continuing to shape the nascent democratic space
for the future. Through this Agenda, women take up their role again,
by contributing to the critical ongoing debate on priority concerns for
the development of the nation.
• Her issues, development issues: “Women’s Issues” matter in Uganda
because they are development issues. There can be no development
with a nation ignoring the concerns of 52% of its most productive
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v
population. Since women play significant reproductive and productive
roles in the family and in the agricultural sector respectively, insufficient
and ineffective service delivery in all sectors impacts not only on their
personal lives, but cascades to the well being and actual survival of
their families, communities and the nation.
While it is appreciated that there are other processes like: The Citizens
Manifesto; Political party manifestos, People’s Platforms and Agenda’s,
the Women’s Agenda prioritises and specifically touches upon matters
of critical concern to women and as such, to the development of
Uganda.
It is therefore very important that the architects of the future political
structure in the Country take on board the views, aspirations and
demands articulated in this Agenda.
• Defining the Agenda, providing alternatives: The Uganda Women’s
Agenda is a political document that defines the key areas that the
women’s movement will prioritise over the next 5 years. It sets out
critical issues of concern to women across age, livelihood, religious
affiliation, political ideology and makes demands for addressing them.
It is a direct result of unease about the insufficient attention given to
critical issues affecting women which have not significantly changed
over the years. The Agenda attempts to present a gender analysis and
makes recommendations for possible alternatives that would lead to
the empowerment of women and girls.
In recent years, the dilemmas facing women have included: keeping
women’s issues core and part of the public debate and action; addressing
co-option, taking ownership and consolidating the gains; ensuring that the
promises are met and allowing Women of Uganda to be part and parcel
of the democratic space and governance processes. Women as full and
meaningful citizens of Uganda have the right, responsibility and obligation
to be part of shaping their future and to contribute to the critical ongoing
debate and processes in the country. It is imperative that we take advantage
of the opportunity provided by an upcoming general election to draw the
attention of key stakeholders to the needs and concerns of the women in
Uganda. We do not only want to define the national agenda but also set the
pace and direction of our nation.
We are optimistic that through this Agenda, the critical stakeholders will pay
attention to the voices of women so as to ensure an improvement of the lives
of the women of Uganda.

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Enjoy the Women’s Agenda and be part of our journey up to 2016!
Patricia Munabi Babiiha.
Executive Director, FOWODE
On behalf of the women’s movement in Uganda

vii
PREAMBLE
WE, THE WOMEN OF UGANDA being full and equal citizens of Uganda,
living, working and residing in Uganda, as well as elsewhere;
GUIDED in the spirit of sisterhood, by a common agenda for the promotion
of the rights of women as fundamental, non- negotiable and inherent human
rights and having collectively participated in a series of consultative processes
at the national and regional levels, in the quest for a Women’s Agenda for
the next five years;
RECOGNISING that, Ugandan women are not homogenous being from
various: backgrounds, social-economic classes, ages, groups, occupations,
livelihoods, religious affiliations, ethnicities and political ideologies and
that despite these rich diversities, women hold a shared commitment to a
transformative agenda;
ACKNOWLEDGING the commendable measures the Government of Uganda,
Civil Society Organizations, Development Partners and Political Parties have
taken to promote the rights of women as well as their participation in politics
and leadership. Further commending the courageous and tenacious women
leaders and politicians, past and present, for daring to beat the path of
emancipation, to ensure their daughters see a better day;
CONCERNED that while the status of women has advanced significantly in the
last 25 years, progress has been uneven, gender inequalities have persisted
and major obstacles to the advancement of women still remain. Further
recognising that the struggle of advocating for women’s rights is political
and as such, the need to use political means to question the legitimacy of the
structures that keep women subjugated;
DEEPLY CONCERNED that despite the promulgation of the Constitution and
the signing and ratification of various regional and international instruments,
the passage of enabling laws and the domestication of instruments, is still
wanting and as such the minimum principles and standards underlying
women’s rights, have continuously been re - negotiated downwards, in the
name of culture, religion and morality and pursuance of containment;
CLAIMING and asserting our right to champion the women’s movement in
Uganda: owning our views, voices, histories and experiences, while further
advancing the right to celebrate the long and rich tradition of the Ugandan
Women’s struggle against patriarchy and our efforts to liberate women and
girls;

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NOW, WE THE WOMEN OF UGANDA, embrace our right and duty to play
a pivotal role in shaping our nation’s destiny by elaborating the Women’s
Agenda 2010 -2016 within ELEVEN MAJOR THEMATIC PILLARS AS THUS:
I. Democracy and governance
II. Economic empowerment
III. Human rights and the law
IV. Health
V. Education
VI. Environment
VII. Information Communication and Technology
VIII. Women with special needs
IX. Peace, human security and dignity
X. Institutional mechanisms for the achievement of gender equality
XI. Uganda in regional and international contexts

1
1.1 Background to the Thematic Pillar: Democracy and
Governance
Governance and Democracy are critical tenets of development and
the enjoyment of human rights, especially women’s rights. Democracy
is a system through which all citizens have a right to participate in their
governance from the national level, sub-national, right down to the family.
The participation of women at all levels of decision making in every sphere
of society is crucial. Substantive democracy cannot exist without the equal
participation of women.
In a multiparty democracy, political parties provide space, offering
alternative leadership and policy, thereby giving direction to the development
agenda. Likewise political parties should provide spaces for women to build
alternative leadership from the grassroots to national levels. Unfortunately
the ratio of women to men in the public sphere does not reflect the population
stratum of 51% women. Women make up 32% in parliament (mainly due to
the creation of new districts each with a woman member of parliament).
Traditional prejudices, rising levels of religious, economic, political and
cultural fundamentalism, low literacy levels and systemic discrimination,
affect women’s effective participation and enjoyment of democratic space.
There is also evidence of lack of political will and the “trading off” of women’s
issues by political parties and organisations, as well as the government.
1.2 Key Priority Areas
Constitutionalism, Rule of Law and Justice
Constitutionalism, the rule of law and justice are paramount in the fostering
of democracy and good governance in every nation. In Uganda today the
duty bearers called to promote these three tenets have been found wanting
1. DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE

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in the execution of their duties and in many instances are the perpetuators
of injustice and the promoters of conflict and electoral related violence.
Key questions arise regarding the impartiality of security organs and public
officers such as RDCs, Ministers, District Chairpersons etc and their use of
public resources for partisan purposes.
It is alarming to note that the institutions supposed to protect citizens’ rights are
the ones violating them, with women as major victims. This further entrenches
the marginalisation of women in politics and other spheres and has the
potential to undermine the achievements registered to date. Incidences of
unacceptable forms of gender based violence targeting women politicians,
by state organs especially the Police and Para military groups has been
commonplace since the 2006 multiparty elections. This further entrenches the
marginalisation of women in politics and has the potential to undermine the
achievements registered to date.
The appreciation of constitutionalism, the rule of law, the separation of
powers, citizen’s rights, duties and obligations cannot be enriched in Ugandan
society without continuous civic education. Sadly the people of Uganda lack
an on-going comprehensive civic education programme educating them
about democracy and governance. In the 2006 general elections, limited and
sporadic civic education was undertaken regarding the multiparty system of
politics which partially explains the apprehension towards multi-partyism.
Women in Leadership, Politics and Decision Making
Women’s participation in politics and decision making encompasses women
in political parties; civil society, the public and private sector. There is wide
acknowledgment of the increased numbers of women in public spaces
however, women constitute 51% of Uganda’s population and the numbers in
leadership positions in Uganda today, do not match the demographic gender
representation. With multipartyism in its infancy, women’s participation is
constrained by unequal opportunities within the party structures and the
social system, which underrates women’s capacities. Currently the risk to
women’s life and dignity in politics is higher than in the past, as many women
are subjected to abuse and violence. Furthermore the gender stereotyping
of women, leads to their “ghettoisation” in political parties and the electoral
process, thus hindering their acquisition of key leadership positions.
The fundamental laws to ensure a credible electoral process are in
existence however, there is need to ensure that implementation of the
amended provisions is gender responsive. Similarly the Political Parties and
Organisations Act 2005, provides for a Code of Conduct and a National
Consultative Forum but neither were engendered to make provision for
women’s concerns and gender parity.

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Capacity of the Electoral Commission and Credibility of Electoral Processes
Cross sections of stakeholders have in the recent past expressed lack of trust
in the EC and questioned its impartiality. Furthermore, the Commission is
largely perceived as lacking independence from the Executive. In addition,
between elections and ahead of elections the work of the EC is highly
constrained by inadequate and untimely resources: human, financial and
infrastructure, which hinder the Commission from effectively fulfilling its
mandate.
Sceptical of the countries’ ability to achieve free, transparent, fair and
peaceful elections; a number of stakeholders including civil society, have
been advocating for electoral reforms and changes in the composition of the
Electoral Commission. Advocates had confrontations with the police, which
resulted in the violation of rights to assembly, freedom from inhuman and
degrading treatment and the right to dignity. Some of the other concerns
about the electoral process are: the legitimacy of electoral outcomes;
irregularities in voter registration, voter intimidation, disenfranchisement,
and media access during elections.
Corruption
The nature and extent of corruption in Uganda, has been an issue of concern
in governance as it affects delivery of services and negatively impacts the
quality of life. As women in Uganda, corruption greatly affects the realisation
of our needs and livelihoods.
Uganda has one of the strongest anti-corruption frameworks and mechanisms,
which rank among the best in Africa. Government has made great strides
in formulating the legal framework within which to fight corruption, with a
total of ten laws and three bills. Work to harmonise all the laws, policies
and institutions involved in the fight against corruption is on-going. The
capacity of the Inspectorate General of Government (IGG), to implement
the Leadership Code Act has been strengthened with trainings of IGG staff
in forensics and investigative skills, among others. The Anti-corruption
Court is now fully functional. These developments are a clear indication of
Government’s commitment to combining legal measures, with institutional
frameworks, in order to enhance transparency and accountability.
Paradoxically, the nature, extent and levels of corruption are alarmingly
high at national and local levels. This has been attributed to the: lack of
political will and commitment on the part of the government to implement
recommendations of various anti-corruption agencies and commissions
of inquiries; inadequate financial, human, technological and logistical

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capacities in the anti-corruption agencies; inherent weaknesses in public
procurement; weak information management systems and public attitudes
that tolerate corruption.
One other form of corruption according to a recent study by the World Bank
is “quiet corruption”. This is where public servants fail to deliver services and
government inputs, with their actions affecting the poor disproportionately
and impacting long term consequences on development. Denied an education
because of absentee teachers, children suffer in adulthood, with low cognitive
skills. The absence of drugs and doctors results in unwanted deaths from
malaria, childbirth related complications and other diseases, while the use
of diluted fertilizers leads to crop failure, which results in low productivity
agriculture. These levels of corruption largely affect women, the majority of
whom are engaged in agriculture and are also the most frequent users of
health facilities, being the care givers in families and the main beneficiaries
of reproductive health services.
Decentralisation, Creation of New Districts and Administrative Structures
The bulk of women’s representation and participation in Uganda’s political
public space is at local government levels. With decentralisation, more
resources, power and leadership positions for citizen’s participation in
governance, have been decentralised. This therefore is a strategic space that
is crucial to garnering the numbers of women in decision-making positions.
At the local government levels, whereas the legal, policy and administrative
frameworks for public participation in the monitoring and implementation of
policies, plans and, programmes has been developed, the full and effective
inclusion of women in their implementation continues to pose challenges.
There are several challenges in garnering ownership of plans and programs
especially: managing and absorbing public finances; corruption; abuse of
office and the lack of capacity amongst the local and central governments
to plan and budget for women’s strategic and practical needs beyond the
International Women’s Day Celebrations at district levels.
The creation of new districts / administrative units is aimed at bringing
services nearer to the people, increasing downward accountability and
enhancing democratic governance. However, there are challenges, with the
major one being the need to balance the rising cost of public administration
and effective delivery of services. Currently the general perception amongst
the public is that districts are being created to foster political clout and to
gain Government favour among the population. It is unfortunate that this is
being done as a means of political patronage rather than the provision of
quality services and administration.

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Inter and Intra Party Relations
In as far as inter-party relations are concerned; there is no mechanism yet
to regulate intra as well as inter-party relations, discipline and conduct. The
Code of Conduct for Political Parties is yet to be formulated.
Intra party relations have tended to be violent, marred with the failure
to manage rowdy youth leagues. The 3 major political parties’ primaries
have been marred with allegations of vote rigging, secretarianism, extreme
violence, unethical conduct and character assassination. Related to this is
the limited investment in building strong memberships from grassroots to
national, regional and the Diaspora communities, that are able to appreciate
the party ideals and hold each other accountable.
The ability of all the major political parties to fill positions freely and openly
remains questionable, given capacity and resource constraints. For instance,
the NRM Party faced tremendous challenges in organising primaries due
to the huge number of positions available for the party to fill using adult
suffrage. Likewise the FDC, DP and UPC Primaries for the Party Flag bearer
were marred with violence and allegations of secretarianism, ageism,
ethnicity, religious factions, and unending court battles challenging the
legitimacy of the electoral processes and elected party flag bearers. As such
therefore, the major political parties have been accused of violence, vote
rigging, culminating into loss of trust, in the party electoral and nominations
processes.
The intra and interparty dynamics have been disadvantageous to many
women who: canvass wider constituencies compared to their male
counterparts (those on affirmative action seats) or have to tussle it out with
party “trade-offs” based on gender amidst fears of losing the positions in the
general elections (women on open constituencies), as well as the monetary
implications and loss of party memberships at the primaries.
1.3 The Change We Want to See
1. Gender parity (50/50) for all elective and appointive positions in
parties, Local Government, Parliament, the Executive and other decision
making structures
2. Review of the electoral process with key stakeholders after the 2011
elections:
- To re-think the composition of the EC and contribute to its re-
constitution, in order to improve its legitimacy and credibility,
and
- To explore alternative, fairer electoral systems e.g. Proportional
Representation.

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3. Women, Youth and PWDs councils re-aligned to the multiparty
system
4. Amendment of the Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment)
Act 2010, to ensure gender parity
5. Enactment of a code of conduct for political parties and organisations,
integrating gender specific ethical issues
6. Resourcing and implementation of a comprehensive civic education
programme that includes among others: democracy in a multiparty
system and women’s rights
7. Implementation of existing laws such as: the Constitution, the Police
Act, the Presidential Elections Act and the Parliamentary Elections Act
and where gaps exist, enact relevant legislation to ensure violent free
political processes
8. Implementation of punitive and compensatory measures, to address
perpetrators and victims of election violence
9. Adherence to the law and human rights standards to ensure tolerance,
dignity and respect, when engaging women in the electoral processes
and the expeditious disbandment of para-military groups that undermine
the rule of law
10. Ratification, domestication and implementation of the Protocol of
the Court of Justice of the African Union 2003 and the African Union
Convention for the Elimination of Mercenaries in Africa 1977
11. A comprehensive gender review of all electoral legislation and other
relevant laws to ensure the promotion of women’s full and meaningful
participation
12. Enactment of the Whistleblowers Bill; the Witness Protection Bill and the
Anti-Money Laundering Bill, to reinforce the fight against corruption.

7
2.1 Background to the Thematic Pillar: Economic
Empowerment
Macro-economic policies and stability have been achieved at the expense of
horizontal and vertical inequalities in Ugandan society. The pre-occupation
with macroeconomic stability and investment competitiveness has relegated
social welfare, social security, and human development issues to the backyard
of policy and official thinking. As such, Uganda has no robust social
protection policy and programmes that would be of benefit to women and
men, allowing for the delivery of a minimum level of services. This therefore
implies that while there has been increasing focus on macroeconomic
stability, paradoxically men and women’s poverty and the gap between the
rich and the poor, men and women has further widened.
In addition, at the moment, the poverty index mainly captures income elements
hence women’s poverty is hardly captured and as a result often not addressed
or prioritised in development planning and budgetary allocations. There is
therefore dire need to develop an index for the measurement of poverty
through a composite index that takes into account both per capita income
and the consumption index, and at the same time captures the non-income
elements of poverty ( like social networks, access to information, power and
asset bases, etc,).
In the area of agriculture where a majority of the actors are women,
interventions have been mainly through the restructuring of the National
Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) within the framework of the Plan
for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA), to support and strengthen the
achievement of “Prosperity for All” (PFA) objectives.
Nonetheless, in spite of these achievements, women are still poorer than men,
they find challenges accessing larger loans (besides small microfinance),
are affected by the high fertility rate and the burden it imposes on them,
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in terms of childcare labour, food security and health risks that affect their
economic empowerment.
Women and Land
Women have unequal access to, ownership and control of land and other
resources. This affects their ability to access other productive resources and
impedes their economic, social and political status. This is especially so
since the majority of women rely on land for their livelihood.
Therefore, the recognition and strengthening of the land rights of women,
girls and children is very justifiable in their social contexts. Key among the
major areas of concern are the elimination of all discriminatory laws and
practices in the manner in which access, control, ownership and transmission
of land rights are determined. Other critical areas of concern for women
under land include: co-ownership of land; representation of women on land
administrative structures and compliance by banking institutions to seeking
spousal consent in instances of transactions relating to and affecting family
land.
Youth Employment
Uganda’s population dynamics indicate that the country has a predominantly
young population with 56% of the population below 18 years of age. This
therefore implies that systematic and strategic initiatives have to be in place
to absorb the young in meaningful employment and tap into their productive
energies.
The rate of job creation is not commensurate with the high rate of growth of
the workforce and while Government has created opportunities for young
people to find jobs, the unemployment and underemployment of the youth,
continues to be a growing concern for the country. The Labour Market
Conditions Report released by Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) in May
2009, indicated that while 400,000 Ugandans, including 20,000 University
graduates join the workforce yearly, only 18,000 jobs are created. This
situation is worse for female youth who also face threats of sexual harassment
in the bid to get jobs. There is a challenge of educating the population about
their rights and obligations under existing labour legislations especially
where workers are not formally organized into trade unions.

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Women in Business in Formal and Informal Sectors
Women, make up a majority of the population engaged in small businesses
and the informal sector. In addition, there has been a slow but steady
increase of women owned businesses and small-scale industries providing
employment and sources of income and revenue.
However, these businesses face a number of challenges which include:
lack of a decentralised and automated Registry of Companies; lack of a
storage system for company trademarks; delays in the operationalisation
of the Centre for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution and the general lack
of counterpart funding from MoFPED to support women’s enterprises. In
addition, to date, there are limited Government incentives for small businesses
to become formal enterprises. The funding made available for supporting
training programmes for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) in good
economic governance and management principles, standards and codes is
also inadequate.
Many women have not accessed funds from the PFA programme because they
are largely controlled by men and women lack information on the systems
and criteria for accessing the funds. Therefore there is need to effectively
communicate the institutional arrangements for delivery and access to the
PFA resources.
The tendering processes at national and district levels also tend to favour men
as they often have the networks, information and collateral that is required
to secure the bank guarantees. There is therefore need to ensure that the
tendering process at the national and district levels is engendered and
affirmative action adopted, to support women’s access to tender biddings. In
addition, the 30% women’s representation in tender boards and the District
Service Commissions is yet to be realised and often gender is sacrificed, on
the pretext of failure to get qualified women to occupy such spaces.
Development Finance for Women
Financing for women in Uganda has been mainly through the provision of
micro-credit schemes that hold women in the poverty bracket as the funds
are rather small, have high interest rates and are realised through group
collateral since the majority of women do not own assets for bigger loans.
In addition, women entrepreneurs generally lack access to information and
therefore cannot access big loans, hence the necessity for affirmative action,
in development finance.

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Access to Markets and Information
Women are the main producers in the agricultural and informal; sectors,
however their ability to make substantial income from these sectors is
hindered by the production-marketing chain that is largely controlled by
male middle men. For women to sell at better prices and be competitive
producers, they must have value addition and be part of the marketing chain.
In addition, as producers they often lack timely information on markets and
economic trends and this affects their ability to effectively negotiate business
transactions. There are also gender-based structural barriers such as sexual
harassment and security of women traversing borders.
Government programmes such as PMA and NAADS have been accused of
not addressing the structural gender challenges. They tend to benefit the rural
men and in practice have promoted less value addition to produce. There is
therefore need to enhance NAADS and PMA and to ensure the involvement
of women in the planning and implementation of these programmes.
Women’s Labour Rights
Poorer paid jobs are still allocated to women, who suffer enduring
discrimination across their working lives because of the interruptions of child
birth and childcare. Many women are thus confined to the CSO sectors and
the public sector and the few that engage in the private sector are confined
to mainly menial work. Under the pressures of combining parenthood and
work, the percentage of women in the formal higher paying labour force,
has declined in recent years.
While the Government has made progress with regards to the domestication
and adoption of International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, codes
and standards as well as the enactment of national laws in the area of labour
rights. Several challenges still exist in domesticating them and ensuring that
women enjoy these rights. Key among the challenges are that the labour
laws enacted in 2006 are yet to be fully operationalised. Further there
are inadequate regulatory, implementation and monitoring mechanisms for
ensuring compliance and the respect of women’s rights, especially in the
private sector.
With the advent of the global economic crisis many women have lost their
jobs and their sources of livelihood. Unfortunately the majority of women fall
outside the ambit of the formal social security facility, being employed in the
informal sector. This situation compounds the existing challenge, the majority
of women face with regard to the politics of the private-public dichotomy
that results in the domesticity of women’s labor, with no value attached to
their domestic, unrecognized, unremunerated labor.

11
Corporate Governance
While there is increasing awareness about Corporate Governance,
entrenching Corporate Governance practices in Uganda’s corporate spheres
is still a challenge. Further challenges lie in monitoring and ensuring the
integration of women’s needs, amongst the private sector and non state
actors. Further with no clear channels for funding requests and the absence
of state mechanisms for coordinating priority corporate governance issues
implemented by the private sector agencies, women’s issues and concerns
fall by the sidelines.
There have also been challenges in making funding available to the
private sector to develop simplified corporate governance guidelines
and accounting standards for SMEs and informal sector businesses. As a
result, the mainstreaming of good corporate governance principles has
been undermined. This has constrained efforts by government to increase
the domestic fiscal resources generated from the SMES, operating in the
informal sector where the majority of women are found.
Oil and Gas Management
There is anxiety over the management of oil revenues. This is exacerbated
by limited government structured knowledge and institutionalised fora for
nation-wide public awareness and engagement in the debate on proposed
legislation on oil and gas. The Oil and Gas Policy 2008, provides a blue
print for management of the oil and gas resources. The policy is aimed
at regulating the production, management and use of the oil and gas
resources.
Whereas government will put in place a sustainable asset in the form of a
Petroleum Fund to store revenues not in the national economy, it is hoped that
Government will ensure the collection and proper use of revenues received
from oil and gas activities and publish this information regularly.
It is important that the sectors that address women’s strategic and practical
needs, benefit from the revenue generated by oil and gas. Government
should also make deliberate effort to provide women with information and
communication on the oil and gas policy.
2.3 The Change we Want to See
1. A Macro Economic Policy that is pro-women, pro-poor and equitable
and also addresses horizontal and vertical poverty
2. Adherence to participatory gender sensitive planning, budgeting and
monitoring and evaluation, in all development plans and programmes

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3. At least 10% of all budget allocations to development programmes,
allocated to programmes focusing on women’s specific needs
4. Amendment of the Income Tax Act, to provide for incentives and tax
waivers for private sector employers, that have a minimum of 30%
female employment, at all levels of their organisational structures
5. Female youth employment prioritised as a key area of national concern,
within the next five years and the progressive increment of funding for
youth specific initiatives
6. Adoption of the draft policy on Youth Employment, so as to address
sexual harassment and the abuse of young women
7. Transparent and equitable distribution of funds derived from oil and
other natural resources, with a 10% allocation of these resources to
sectors that directly benefit women
8. 50:50 gender parity, in all decision making structures that manage
natural resources
9. Amendment of the Land (Amendment) Act and other relevant laws, to
provide for the co-ownership of matrimonial property by spouses
10. Development of policies and programmes to address the drivers of high
fertility rates, which adversely impact women’s economic empowerment
and national development
11. Increased opportunities for gainful and productive employment
targeting women, through scaling up formal and informal education
and skills training
12. Promotion and protection of women’s labour rights, in adherence to
national and international labour obligations and standards
13. Adherence to national and international health and safety standards,
for the safety, security and mitigation of occupational hazards, for
women in all spheres of employment
14. Establishment of clear, measurable and practical actions, to address
women’s income and consumption poverty, access to credit, information
and markets e.t.c
15. Tendering and procurement processes reviewed at local government
level, to take into account affirmative action and promote women’s
participation

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3.1 Background to the Thematic Pillar: Human Rights and the Law
Uganda is a State Party to various international and regional instruments that
guarantee the rights of women. Progress has also been made in designing
and implementing measures to eliminate discrimination against women
through the legal and policy framework.
However despite this progress women in Uganda still continue to be
victims of discrimination and harmful practices. Several other challenges
also remain such as the: existence of cultural and traditional practices that
discriminate against women and the girl child, persistence of patriarchal
patterns of behaviour, low literacy levels among women that impede their
access to social services and their participation in economic activities, a
high prevalence of poverty, a very slow law reform process, and ineffective
mechanisms for the enforcement of women’s rights.
These challenges are compounded by the lack of awareness amongst women
of key conventions on the rights of women ratified by Government, making it
difficult for the citizens to demand and exercise their rights, even in situations
where an enabling legal and policy environment is in place.
While it is appreciated that women have made achievements in public spaces,
there still is immense oppression in the private spaces and at the personal
level. This translates into women not having control over their bodies, as well
as other productive resources. Equality and decision making in the home
eludes women across all social classes. Due to normalised discrimination and
violence there are increasing cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence
(SGBV) targeted at women and girls, yet victim reporting is highly unlikely in
family settings and private spaces where the majority of abuse takes place
unchecked. Further violence takes place in the form of: sexual slavery,
violence meted on women in armed conflict, wife beating, as well as sexual
and psychological abuse and ensures that perpetrators of such violence are
prosecuted and held accountable for their actions.
3. HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE LAW

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Patriarchal ideology enables and legitimizes the structuring of every aspect
of women’s lives including the law by establishing frameworks within which
society defines and views men and women and constructs male supremacy
and other entrenched practices such as polygamy and bride price. Thus
civil society and the women’s movement have continuously challenged the
constitutionality of some laws such as: The Penal Code Act, The Succession
Act, the Divorce Act; Constitutional petition on FGM among others.
Despite the progress made to date, major structural and systemic challenges
still remain in pursuit of a life of dignity and women’s enjoyment of human
rights in all spheres economic, social, legal and cultural. Women are firmly
convinced that any law, policy, programme, and practice in Uganda that
hinders or endangers the physical and psychological development of women
and girls, should be condemned and outlawed.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) of Women
Uganda has the 3rd highest population growth rate in the world estimated
at 3.2 percent. It also has one of the highest fertility rates with an average
of 7 children per woman. The high population growth rate is attributed to
existing imbalances in gender relations in families that narrow the range
of choices for women regarding their sexual and reproductive rights and
foster women’s vulnerability to sexual abuse. High fertility rates have been
linked to insecurity of land tenure for many married women, lack of access
to family planning services and a social security system for the elderly that
promotes security in increasing child births. The frequency of child births
impedes women’s personal development, affects their health and that of
their children and increases demand on their unseen and unremunerated
labor: raising children and providing for large families.
The high fertility rates are also impacted by a number of sexual violations
that Uganda’s adolescent female’s experience. These include: early/forced
marriages; low status of the girl child; the highest teenage pregnancy rate
in the world standing at 25% and limited access to contraceptives. There
are also several other health concerns that affect women’s sexual and
reproductive rights that arise from: obstructed labour, vesicle vaginal fistula,
high maternal mortality rates; unsafe abortion, violence against women and
lack of gender-sensitive sanitary facilities in schools
The status of SRHR is closely linked to poverty reduction and economic
empowerment at household level. While the unwarranted suffering and death
of a woman while giving birth is deplorable, there are also other significant
social and economic challenges resulting from the death of a mother. These

15
include: loss of the mother’s contribution to household management and
child and family care; economic loss to the workforce and the loss of the
unpaid labour that is often central to community life. Furthermore high infant
mortality rates IMR are linked to the deaths of mothers.
Harmful Cultural Practices
Various traditions and cultural practices continue to undermine the dignity
of women and to perpetuate the violation of their rights. There can be no
meaningful development if women continue to be subjected to harmful
cultural practices that undermine girls and women, the payment of bride
price, widow inheritance, child marriages, polygamy, and female genital
mutilation (FGM). Women are not protected from these practices and
they continue to bear the distress of patriarchal oppression in the name of
preserving culture, traditions and value systems.
Access to Justice
Women in Uganda often face legal discrimination and restrictions that inhibit
their participation in many spheres of life. Constitutional and legislative
guarantees of women’s rights are not always implemented; moreover religion
and customary laws that discriminate against women, are often allowed to
override such legislation. Furthermore women are not always aware of their
rights under the law.
Access to justice relates to whether or not individuals, groups and communities
realise de facto justice from the enforcement of the law, as well as the quality
of justice meted out by the justice delivery system. Access to justice has three
main levels namely:
• Physical Access – how close the users are to law enforcement
agencies
• Access in financial terms- how affordable legal services are to the
users
• Access in technical terms – how comfortable the users are with the legal
language and procedural requirements. It also relates to the treatment
of the users by the law enforcement personnel and other actors.
Women face problems of accessibility at all these three levels, mainly
associated with: poverty, lack of awareness, the culture of impunity amongst
law enforcement officers,the breakdown of justice in conflict affected areas,
juvenile justice constraints and the slow pace of the justice systems, in terms of
investigation and court proceedings. The justice personnel lack the requisite
skills, knowledge and competences needed to address the unique violations
that women face. Many affected women are also not supported to overcome
the cultural and institutional challenges in their quest for justice.

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On the other hand unequal power relations and a patriarchal legal regime
have resulted in the denial of basic rights for millions of women in the
country. Several laws and policies, themselves rooted in patriarchy, are
grossly inadequate in addressing gender based human rights violations.
Many women unable to access the formal justice system approach the
informal system of clan leaders, religious leaders, or local council officials
in the village to resolve their issues. Resolution is often faster and with fewer
steps and players than in the informal system, however these systems often
entrench gender discrimination, with women facing further injustice. Often,
the goals of dispute resolution are to preserve family harmony or maintain
custom, instead of enforcing the written law. The other actors that reach out
to women unable to bring their cases to the formal justice system, are the
CSOs that provide legal aid services.
Government should take more active responsibility for ensuring greater
access to justice and make the necessary reforms in the justice institutions
and the legal regime, in order to enhance women’s access to justice.
1. Expeditious enactment of gender legislation and development of policy
with special focus on the Marriage and Divorce Bill, the Muslim’s
Personal Administration Bill, the Sexual Offences Bill and the National
Sexual Harassment Policy
2. Amendment and repealing of the laws declared null and void by the
Constitutional Court in the recent past namely: the Penal Code Act, the
Succession Act and the Divorce Act
3. Implementation of the: Domestic Violence Act; Trafficking in Persons
Act and the Female Genital Mutilation Act
4. Establishment of a policy on women’s shelters and provision of 5
shelters nationally, (at least 1 per region) to help women in distress
5. Capacity building and training in ethical and professional conduct, for
law enforcement agencies and officers, so as to uphold justice and
safe guard the dignity of victims of sexual offences
6. All the laws of Uganda reviewed in line with the Constitution, with
regards to the affirmative action policy and gender equality and equity,
for marginalized groups
7. Registration of Births and Deaths systems reinforced and updated, to
enhance the provision of reliable information on the age of girls, thus
protecting their Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights
8. Development of a comprehensive civic education program, with
particular focus on human rights and the rights of women, children,
workers and persons with disabilities.

17
4.1 Background to the Thematic Pillar: Health
Uganda’s health indicators are generally low for all social categories and
worse for women. About 16 women in Uganda die every day from pregnancy
and childbirth related complications many of which are preventable. The
maternal mortality rate reduced from 527 to 435 per 100,000 live births
between 1995 and 2006, but still remains very high. For every one maternal
death, about 20 neonatal deaths occur. Only 47% of women attend the
recommended 4 times of antenatal care visits to health facilities and only
23% of the women in Uganda get postpartum care during the first two days
following child birth. Teenage pregnancy estimated at 25 percent in 2006, is
amongst the highest in sub- Saharan Africa and significantly contributes to
the overall maternal mortality rate .
The provision of basic health services is affected by corruption in the delivery
of drugs the absenteeism of staff and service providers, as well as poor terms
and conditions of service, which lead to low motivation amongst medical
staff. The smooth and effective implementation of government programmes
especially at sub-county level is impeded by inadequate capacity.
These challenges greatly affect women who are care givers and shoulder
the burden of care for the sick. Women further bear the brunt of ensuring
that water is available for household use which has increased their labour
demands especially during the dry seasons. This, impacts on women’s health,
increases disease burden and as such render women less productive.
Masculinities and Male Health Seeking Behaviour
Patriarchy plays a great role in the health status of women. Patriarchal
social relations, structures and systems are embedded in other oppressive
and exploitative structures, which promote men’s access to and control over
4. HEALTH

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resources and rewards, within the private and public sphere. Hence, men
access more information and make many decisions for themselves and women
yet, they have very low health seeking behaviour. Masculinities hinder men
from seeking counselling, support and care. This affects and down plays the
achievements so far registered in the area of women and health.
In the fight against HIV/AIDS, male health seeking behaviour has become
a major point of concern, as men generally do not seek healthcare in good
time, have multiple partners and do not seek VCT counselling. This is further
exacerbated by the fact that adherence levels amongst men are lower
compared to those of women.
Trauma and Mental Health
Due to the normalised and ever increasing rates of actual and perceived
violence in the public and private spheres and in post conflict areas, women
need special attention. Women experience violence in a different way
from men and therefore require special focus from the health sector, with
particular attention to trauma and mental health illnesses that impact, on
their general well-being.
Women and Girls Living with HIV/AIDS
With support from the USAID/PEPFAR, the Government of Uganda has
been able to enrol 76,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) onto Anti
Retroviral Therapy (ART) and to provide laboratory equipment and supplies.
This represents an estimated 50% of all persons living with HIV/AIDS in
Uganda. In addition, as at 2009, 465,000 individuals received free/voluntary
counselling and testing in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission
(PMTCT) programs. There are also clinical trials for technologies controlled
by women such as, microbicides and HIV vaccines.
HIV/AIDS has been mainstreamed in sector plans and the Medium Term
Expenditure Framework. The development of a National Priority Action Plan,
HIV/AIDS Mainstreaming Policy and a law on HIV/AIDS are underway.
Similarly a national policy for addressing HIV/AIDS at the workplace has
also been formulated. Government has also set aside funds for procuring
ARVs using its own resources, rather than depend on donors. Furthermore
the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) is in the process of establishing a
functional database for HIV/AIDs and a National HIV Policy. The Ministry of
Local Government has equally integrated HIV/AIDs in the local government
programmes. There are currently 80 Local Government HIV/AIDs Focal
Points, appointed to oversee the integration of HIV/AIDs concerns at local
government level.

19
Despite these interventions however, women and girls still bear the burden of
HIV/AIDS due to the inherent power relations; their reproductive roles and
existing negative cultural practices such as polygamy; early marriage, bride
price, wife inheritance and property grabbing which make them even more
vulnerable. The mean age of young women’s infection is lower compared to
their male colleagues in all age cohorts, due to cross-generational sex and
sexual violence. Women are prone to discrimination as they tend to test and
often know their status earlier than their partners, due to their reproductive
roles that require them to undergo VCT. In light of the global economic
crisis; history of abuse and the embezzlement of funds meant to support
HIV/AIDS; there are concerns about the sustainability of HIV/AIDS funding
as it impacts on the provision of free ART to women.
4.3 The Change we Want to See
1. Allocation of sufficient resources for the implementation of Government
commitments made under the Abuja Declaration on Health, the
AU Commitment on the Campaign on the Accelerated Reduction of
Maternal Mortality in Africa and the National Roadmap on Maternal
health
2 Increased funding to ensure functional and accessible health services,
as well as improved remuneration of medical personnel.
3 Support and operationalisation of the Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
in health care service provision.
4 Expeditious adoption of the Uganda Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Policy (2009) and the operationalisation of the Central
Coordination Institution/ Centre on Disaster Management, so as to
strengthen the country’s preparedness for disasters and epidemics
5 Integration of components of advocacy against Sexual and Gender
Based Violence, in HIV Counselling, Care and Support
6 Increased support and funding to HIV research and interventions aimed
at technologies controlled by women, such as Microbicides studies and
HIV Vaccines
7 Renewed commitment to providing HIV Treatment, Care, Support to
address the challenge of HIV/AIDs country wide.

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5.1 Background to the Thematic Pillar: Education
Government has invested significant resources to promote the UPE and USE
programmes. Funding has been secured to improve infrastructure through
the building of classrooms, latrines, science rooms and libraries. In addition
funds have been allocated for the improvement of water and sanitation
facilities in schools. However in spite of these interventions girls and women
still have lower literacy levels compared to men and boys, which limits
their personal development and their participation in the other processes.
Government and parents therefore need to pay renewed attention to the
retention of the girl child in school.
The quality of education has remained a major source of contention with
key concerns being about the inability to focus on education that enhances
innovation and encourages people to think and explore their abilities. The
education curriculum is based on assessing the capacity to pass exams and
not on holistic development such as: competence for survival, analytical
skills; understanding gender diversity and capabilities, hence making it
irrelevant in the new world order. Other challenges faced in implementing
the UPE and USE programmes identified in the past have been: sharing
of sanitary facilities by boys and girls; failure to make UPE compulsory
and negative cultural and societal attitudes, towards girl’s education and
women’s empowerment.
Concerns have also been raised with regard to gender stereotypes and
instilling of gender roles through educational materials that disregard the
other positive roles that women play, beyond reproduction and domestic
labour. Furthermore sexuality and gender education is still very limited.
This affects the teachers and learners ability to critique harmful social and
traditional practices and to understand how the power relationships between
men and women, boys and girls, impact on gender, sexuality and sexual
relations.
5. EDUCATION

21
Girl’s Performance and Retention
The quality of primary education is affected by a combination of factors
such as: absence of regular inspection; inadequate instructional materials;
automatic promotion of pupils; high levels of absenteeism by teachers and
poor terms and conditions of service, among others. Completion rates have
remained low and this is worse among girls. Completion rates were at 30%
in 2007, and had dropped to 25% in 2008 . Key factors that explain high
girl child drop-out after primary four are: poor sanitation in schools, early
marriages and the widespread preference for educating boys at the expense
of girls. Girls are also still largely underrepresented in technical and science
subjects.
Functional Adult Literacy
Functional Adult Literacy has taken root in Uganda and it is encouraging
to note that there is overwhelming demand for it in the whole country. 85%
of attendees are women with an average of two classes per sub-county.
This is advantageous but at the same time challenging as more men control
household resources and decision making and it is important that they too
have to be literate. In addition, there is a draft Non-formal Adult Education
Policy that streamlines the operation of adult literacy.
Indeed the available resources cannot meet the overwhelming and increasing
demand for FAL. There is inadequate supply of instructional materials and
the reliance on voluntary literacy instructors, which negatively affect the
implementation of the program. Many women are not reached by FAL and
yet their level of literacy affects their effective participation in leadership
and local governance. Other challenges in implementing the programme
are: the limited access to functional literacy by persons with special learning
needs due to lack of trained literacy instructors in Braille and sign language
and the lack of an effective information management system also affects the
program since there are no up to date statistics.
1. Review of the Affirmative Action Policy in the education sector, to
promote the enrolment of girls in Teacher Training Colleges and
Polytechnics
2. Increased investment in Polytechnics that cater for primary education
drop outs, the majority of whom are girls
3. Enforcement of laws and regulations that encourage girl’s enrolment
and retention in schools, while addressing barriers to their education

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such as: child sacrifice, sexual harassment, FGM, early marriages and
the lack of sanitary towels
4. Re-designed training curriculums in all institutions of education, to
ensure that they are gender responsive
5. Improved conditions of service for teachers and provision of incentives
to ensure quality education and the retention of staff
6. Development of a gender responsive policy and implementation of
regulations, for the effective implementation of the Business, Technical
and Vocational Training (BTVET) Act
7. Increased resource allocation to Universal Secondary Education, to
ensure the provision of quality education
8. Increased resource allocation for FAL and finalisation of the draft Non-
Formal Adult Education Policy, in order to streamline and promote the
coverage of FAL country wide

23
6.1 Background to the Thematic Pillar: Environment
In Uganda today pressures on water, environment and natural resources
due to weather and climate change variability, are intensifying and provide
increasing challenges for service delivery. The effects of poor land use
practices, ecosystems degradation and inadequate enforcement on
compliance, has led to declining water levels as well as the drying and
pollution of water resources. Population pressure due to high growth rates
has resulted in environmental degradation through the massive encroachment
on forests, wet lands and other fragile ecosystems for cultivation, grazing
and habitation, as well as the poor disposal of solid and liquid waste. This
has triggered off multiple social, economic, political and environmental
effects, thus affecting women who are the largest users of land.
Government has put in place elaborate environmental laws, regulations and
standards to guide the management of environmental resources. However,
the level of compliance is still very low, leading to the misuse and degradation
of the environment. Furthermore the environmental mainstreaming measures in
the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Local Governments, are
weak due to among other things lack of institutional capacity and funding.
The Impact of Environmental degradation on women
Women play a critical role in the development of sustainable and ecologically
sound management systems, for the environment and natural resources. They
engage with the environment for: sources of energy, materials for building
family shelters, sources of water and subsistence living, mainly through
agriculture and herding. Thus in almost all communities those at risk and
affected more severely during all phases of natural disasters are women.
Disaster, economic and conflict induced displacement have devastating
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impacts on women, who are forced to leave their communities as they migrate
internally in search of shelter and livelihood, thus exposing themselves to
various forms of danger.
The impact of Climate Change on women
Global warming, climate change and the inter-related impacts that they bring
about, take a heavy toll on communities with the devastation of crops caused
by climatic events such as: changing patterns of rainfall, floods, landslides
and drought. Women being the primary caretakers of the family, are often
the first to become aware of environmental changes, as resources become
scarce, affecting their means of livelihood and the very sustenance of their
families. Due to their increased likelihood of living in poverty and their
gendered social roles, women are more likely than men, to die in climate
change-related disasters and to suffer from increased workload, the burden
of fuel and water collection, violence, health problems and the loss of income
in the aftermath of such events.
The critical role women play in utilising and managing the environment
and natural resources, must be recognised and integrated in all strategies
for addressing issues of the environment. Women must be involved in the
planning and implementation of environmental conservation programmes and
their voices should be heard and integrated in policy making at all levels.
1. Greater participation of women at all levels, in the planning,
management and preservation of the environment and the sustainable
use of natural resources
2. Increased investment in research on alternative and renewable energy
sources and other appropriate technologies, while facilitating women’s
access to and participation in their control
3. Investment in the preparation of communities for disaster and the
provision of disaster management interventions that are well resourced,
timely and responsive to the specific needs of women
4. Mechanisms established and effective communication strategies
developed for women and communities on issues of climate change
and the environment
5. Set targets for women’s groups to benefit from Carbon Credits and
facilitation of their participation through training, allocation of land
and resources
6. Protection of water sources from private ownership for public good
and restriction on the leasing of sections of water bodies, which makes
them inaccessible to the people, particularly women

25
7.1 Background to the Thematic Pillar: Peace, Security and
Human Dignity
Conflict is endemic in Uganda and is manifested through the various land
conflicts, gender, tribal /ethnic conflicts, resource conflicts and political
violence fanned by the existing cycle of violence at the border/Great Lakes
region. Peace, human security and dignity are critical determinants of
sustainable development. Where there is conflict, the people that tend to
suffer most are women.
The Government of Uganda has adopted and began the implementation of
UN Resolution 1325 and UN Resolution 1820, which address the needs of
women in all peace keeping operations, as well as the broader issues of
women’s roles in building and maintaining peace. The Goma Declaration
recognises violence as a threat to national and regional security and
development and that it propagates the spread of HIV/AIDS, which in turn
affects productivity and retards development.
The insecurity we experience as a country, is manifested through the violence
experienced in the home and the community.
Holistic Nature of Conflict
Conflict should be addressed from a holistic perspective because peace does
not mean the absence of war. The PRDP clearly states that the manifestation
of conflict goes beyond the presence of war.
The way women and men experience conflict is different. In Uganda, women
bear the greater brunt of conflict both in the private and public spheres and
are therefore in a permanent state of insecurity even when there is no war in
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the country. Permanent insecurity is manifested through the high magnitude
of; domestic violence; personal insecurity and failure to have control over
personal resources; food insecurity; sexual violence; mental torture and
limited power of decision making, which affects their ability to lead. Conflict
therefore prevents women from participating in leadership because it affects
their personal and bodily integrity.
1. Adequate resourcing and implementation of the UN 1820 and Goma
Declarations and integration of the UN Res 1325, with government
policies and plans such as PRDP, NDP, etc
2. Development of a policy and regulations to guide the creation of
districts and administrative units, to limit sources of national tension
and unrest
3. Establishment of a Reparations Fund for women with a special focus
on mental health
4. Resourcing, implementation and monitoring of the Cessation of
Hostilities Agreement 2006
5. Review of the PRDP and its implementation, to ensure that it is well
resourced and that it prioritises women’s concerns
6. Support to the provision of legal aid services to women in the Greater
North
7. Assessment of the land question in the context of the war, taking
cognizance among others of gender, poverty, culture, patriarchy and
the communal land tenure system of ownership, prevalent in the Greater
North
8. Development of an affirmative action policy to promote the education
of the girl child from the Greater North, at all levels, including tertiary
institutions.
9. Promotion of non-violent forms of conflict resolution and integration
of gender perspectives in the resolution of armed or other conflicts.
Women being peacemakers and preservers of the social order must be
included in peace keeping, conflict resolution, and management at all
levels.
10. Promotion and establishment of national reconstruction and
reconciliation initiatives among people from all regions and of all
political persuasions.

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8.1 Background to the Thematic Pillar: Women with Special
Needs
Whereas the Constitution of Uganda (Chapter 4 Article 21 and 25) provides
that all persons are equal before and under the law a gap exists between
theory and practice the rights of women with special needs are abused either
by omission or commission. Women with special needs often have limited
access to functional literacy facilities, especially persons with special learning
needs due to lack of trained literacy instructors in braille, sign language
and tactile and curriculums that are based towards the majority of women.
Women with special needs are prone to: sexual abuse; being unheard or
unseen and abused by state and non-state actors. Often they are targets of
all kinds of experiments and researches that impact on their wellbeing and
social exclusion and justified normalised discrimination. They hence become
more vulnerable even within the same social group as women.
Social security systems do not address the needs of women with special
needs adequately and tend to focus on the women in the formal sector or
within the majority of women.
Special Protection for Elderly Women
Social security for elderly men and women has become an issue of national
and community concern, especially with the high HIV mortality rates, that
lead to a high dependency ration of orphans on, older women. Elderly
women have no social protection and yet Article 22 of the Maputo Protocol
requires State Parties to provide protection to elderly women and to take
specific measures commensurate with their physical, economic and social
needs, as well as their access to employment and professional training.
The Protocol ensures the right of elderly women to freedom from violence,
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including sexual abuse, discrimination based on age and the right to be
treated with dignity.
Special Protection of Women with Disabilities
While Uganda has enacted a Disability Act, no regulations have been put in
place to operationalise it, so as to ensure its effective implementation. The
right of women with disabilities to employment, access, learning materials
and sexual rights are not respected. They face stigma and often are denied
the professions of their choice and yet the Maputo Protocol (Art 23 a and
b), requires State Parties to ensure the protection of women with disabilities
taking specific measures commensurate with their physical, economic and
social needs. Women with disabilities should be supported to access
employment, professional and vocational training, as well as to participate
in decision-making. In addition the Protocol ensures their right to freedom
from violence, including sexual abuse, discrimination based on disability
and the right to be treated with dignity.
Girls and Women in Detention
The tough and appalling conditions in some of the prisons around the country
are evidence that the rights of women in detention are not being adhered to.
Many women serve their sentences with their children with little or no special
provisions for their care and wellbeing.
Uganda committed to ensuring the rights of pregnant or nursing women in
detention, by providing them with an environment which is suitable to their
condition and their right to be treated with dignity (Maputo Protocol Art
24(b)).
Widows
With the rising levels of HIV/AIDS, the burden of orphans, land grabbing,
the lacuna in the law regarding women’s land rights and the inexistent
social security systems, widow’s burdens are increasing, rendering them
very vulnerable. This is contrary to the obligations that the Government of
Uganda committed itself to under Art. 20 and 21 of the Maputo Protocol.
This article provides that a widow shall have the right to an equitable share
in the inheritance of the property of her husband and to continue to live in
the matrimonial house. In case of remarriage, she shall retain this right if the
house belongs to her or she has inherited it. Women and men shall have the
right to inherit, in equitable shares, their parents’ properties.

29
1. Investment in research to inform policy and legislation for the provision
of functional Social Security for elderly women especially those outside
the formal sector
2. Sign language interpreters mainstreamed in all forms of official
communication
3. Expeditious development of the Disability Policy and Operational
Guidelines /Regulations for the implementation of the Disability Act
4. Women in detention at all levels supported to fulfill their reproductive
roles and the protection of children born in detention
5. Protection of girls in juvenile centers from sexual harassment
6. Retention and completion of school, by the girl child with special
needs
7. Enactment of enabling laws to operationalise article 33 of the
Constitution of Uganda, so as to protect widows from cultures and
traditions that are degrading and harmful
8. Concerns of women with special needs mainstreamed in all laws,
policies and programmes, as well as provision of adequate funding to
address these needs.

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30
9.1 Background to the Thematic Pillar: Information and
Communication Technology
In the last twenty years Uganda has witnessed an ICT revolution, with regards
to communication, information sharing, proliferation of media houses and
the democratisation of information. There has been an upsurge in: the
access to mobile phones, internet usage, and availability of private owned
television and radio stations, that are largely due to the liberalisation of
the ICT sector. While the private sector has readily embraced the ICT age,
Government has been slow in promoting the use of ICT in service delivery
and the communication of government policies and programmes, especially
in the rural areas.
It is important for Government to develop and implement policies and
programmes to promote the usage of ICT amongst the population and
more especially by women. ICTs are an effective mechanism for expanding
knowledge and access to information for rural women and can enhance
their abilities to market their produce and negotiate prices, thus increasing
their share of resources.
Women and information technology
ICTs offer enormous potential for transforming the lives of women. They
provide access to training and skills for political, economic and social
participation. They also provide a direct means for women to network, share
information and enhance their abilities to negotiate for their rights. Despite
these advantages the majority of women in Uganda have not benefited from
ICT. ICT coverage and usage is dismally low in the rural areas, where the
majority of women and girls reside. This is mainly due to the high cost of: IT
9. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY

31
equipment, software, internet connectivity and energy. In addition the unequal
power relations between men and women contribute to differential access,
participation and treatment, with regards to accessibility and usage of ICTs.
Indeed women face challenges that generally impede their integration into
the information society namely: lack of resources, low literacy and education
levels and time constraints due to multiple roles. It is therefore important
that Government establishes programmes for accessibility and training in
ICT, for rural communities as well as schools and institutions to help improve
coverage in the rural areas with a special focus on women.
Women and the media
The media and women hold a very mutual relationship, as the media is
universally known to be essential in any democratic and governance process.
The media in Uganda has been a very instrumental ally in raising popular
awareness and support for women’s rights, as well as raising awareness.
There has been a marked expansion in: the growth of the local advertising
industry and the development of young upcoming female and gender
sensitive artistes in the film making industry, hence promoting behavioural
change and the transformation of gender relations and stereotyping.
Unfortunately the media continues to: marginalise women, trivialise their
issues and paint negative images of them. The media has been commercialised
and privatised, producers and editors have underlying commercial interests,
which are often not about empowering women. There is abuse of women’s
bodies and portrayal of negative “sex sells’ images like pornography and
the presentation of women as sex objects. Similarly the media continues
to portray women in stereotypical roles and images, especially since the
industry offers quick money to unemployed young women, willing to trade
off their right to privacy in many of the pornographic media houses.
1. Expansion of the Digital Science Teaching component of the Cyber
Schools Technology Solutions Programme, supported by the Uganda
Communications Commission (UCC), to promote increased and wider
use of ICT in rural schools
2. Increased resource allocation to UCC’s Rural Communications
Development Fund, so as to equip more rural pupils with computers
3. Gender sensitive media policies developed, to ensure that media
programmes do not promote gender stereotyping.
4. Affirmative Action policies developed to ensure gender equality,
in the appointive positions on public ICT boards and heads of ICT
Institutions

EQUAL BY RIGHT
32
5. Investment in the use of ICTs in education (formal and informal) and
in the establishment of establishment of rural ICT Centres, to promote
accessibility and usage by women.
6. Self regulatory mechanisms developed for all media houses, in order
to address the exploitation of women’s bodies for pornography and
to promote the right to women’s privacy, as well as respect for their
bodily integrity and personhood.

33
10.1Background and Key Issues to the Thematic Pillar:
Institutional Mechanisms for the Achievement of
Gender Equality
The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MGSLD) is the
government machinery for promoting the mainstreaming of gender and
women’s rights. The Ministry through various laws, policies and programmes
in partnership with the other MDA’s, has embarked on ensuring gender equity
and equality. The establishment of the Equal Opportunities Commission
(EOC), development of gender oriented sectoral policies, gender guidelines,
legal instruments and the gender budgeting initiatives, provides Uganda
with a good foundation for mainstreaming gender and promoting the rights
of women.
However, there are a number of challenges regarding the institutional
mechanism, which hinder it from being effective in achieving gender equity
and equality. More needs to be done to increase women’s access to economic
opportunities and to build capacities, funding and institutional support to the
MGLSD. Access to productive resources for the youth and women should
be prioritised, as a means of eradicating poverty and creating sustainable
livelihoods and economic growth.
The ultimate success of gender equity and equality can only be measured
from results at the lower levels. Hence, the focus should be on increasing
local revenue for Local Governments and the promotion of broad-based
participation in development, by all stakeholders at all levels. Other issues
for consideration are: decentralization, a review of the tendering and
procurement processes; capacity building of elected leaders and local
communities on the effective participation of women, youth and PWDs in
planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation processes.
The MGLSD is too congested with too many marginalised groups and under
10. INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR THE
ACHIEVEMENT OF GENDER EQUALITY

EQUAL BY RIGHT
34
resourced in terms of human, financial and logistical support. This state of
affairsunderminestheprinciple/primaryfunctionofpromotingmainstreaming
gender and women’s rights, in all government institutions. Government needs
to review this and develop a structure that is more effective in addressing
these gender concerns.
10.2 The Change we want to See
1. Decongestion of the MGLSD through institutional restructuring at
Ministry level so as to make the MGLSD more effective
2. Establishment of the position of Gender Officers to ensure gender
mainstreaming in all sectors and ministries
3. Increased financial support to the current MGLSD, to enable it play its
role effectively.

35
11.1 Background to the Thematic Pillar: Uganda in the
Regional and International Contexts
Uganda subscribes to many regional, sub-regional and international
instruments which call for the strengthening of good governance and the
enjoyment of women’s rights. The principle of promoting gender equity,
equality and justice is enshrined in Uganda’s Constitution, the Constitutive
Act of the African Union; the African Charter on Human and Peoples’
Rights; the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 1325 (2000); various
Ugandan laws and other regional and international instruments. By being a
party to these instruments, Uganda underlines her commitment to pay dues,
ensure domestication and implementation of these instruments and provide
the necessary resources. This also includes the full participation of Ugandan
women in regional and international structures, including appointment to
represent and participate as equal partners in promoting good governance as
well as in the nation’s social, political, cultural and economic development.
Government should put special emphasis on the development of its human
resources in order for it to be able to compete favourably and benefit
from the gains of regionalization and internationalization. Women should
be positioned strategically to participate in decision-making and other
opportunities presented at the EAC, AU, APRM/NEPAD Secretariat, UN
agencies and the UN.
Regional and International Principles, Codes and Standards
While many international codes and standards have been signed and ratified
in the past, many more with a bearing on the protection and promotion
of women’s human rights are yet to be signed or ratified. These include:
11. UGANDA IN THE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
CONTEXTS

EQUAL BY RIGHT
36
the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (2002); African Union Non-
Aggression and Common Defence Pact (2005); the Protocol of the Court of
Justice of the African Union (2003); and the African Union Convention for
the Elimination of Mercenaries in Africa (1977).
On the other hand, the international conventions, codes and standards that
have been signed, ratified, domesticated and implemented, have not been
systematically disseminated and popularised among state and non-state
stakeholders. Furthermore although there are seven major international codes
and standards, which have been identified for domestication, government
has made limited progress in their domestication.
Uganda is in arrears with many of the international and regional bodies
to which it belongs and this limits its capacity to effectively engage,
sometimes even leading to the loss of rights to vote. Key among these are
the APRM, the African Union, East African Community, NEPAD . Failure to
remit subscriptions on time not only questions the country’s commitment to
international treaties, but also its ability and that of its citizens to effectively
engage in such spaces.
Regional Economic Blocs
Uganda belongs to a number of regional economic blocks, the EA Customs
Union being the most recent. The Government must safeguard its citizens
especially women, from the negative effects of the expanded markets, free
trade zones and address itself to concerns about citizenship so as to ensure
that all Ugandans, fully benefit from these regional economic blocks.
11.3 The Change we want to See
1. Constitution of an Inter-Ministerial Committee and the expeditious
implementation and initiation of a process of integrating international
conventions, standards and codes into policy and legislation
2. 50:50 gender parity in appointments and postings to strategic regional
and international bodies
3. Adherence to periodic reporting as specified in the regional and
international treaties and in such reports, capture and address women
and gender specific concerns
4. Domestication of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and
People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol)
and allocation of sufficient resources for its implementation
5. Timely provision of information on available opportunities to women
and link women’s production areas to markets in the region.

37

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