Women Emancipation Is Part And Parcel Of NRM Government

 

As Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the International Women's day; 8th March, a day set aside to annually revamp world's commitment in attaining gender equality through out the globe, the contribution of women towards economic, political and social development is highly acknowledged and recognized. Acoli says "Gwok ma dako bene mako lee" which is literally translated as; "even a female dog catches animals", meaning a woman is as good as a man.

In the olden days, women were looked at as people obligated to handle only domestic works and nothing beyond that. Women were considered not fit at all for public duty and in most African communities, they where not allowed to talk in village meetings and even have a say on such matters. Former French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte accepted the fact that women can be strong, but he asserted that they are only strong enough to seduce men. He said woman should play their roles at home as wives and mothers and to him the greatest woman is that who produces many children. Even though that myopic perception is still being held in other primitive societies across the world, the emergence of modern leaders like Shankara Thomas, former president of Bukinafaso who said "there is no true social revolution without liberation of women" and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who believes that most of the problems in different homes and communities can only be reduced when women are economically and socially empowered. He believes that making a woman financially reliant will offer solutions to domestic violence and other social challenges.

NRM visionaries envisioned the idea of women emancipation before even going to the bush. President Museveni had known that the roles of women is very paramount if any revolution or development is to succeed and this influenced the decision of the movement to involve women right at the genesis of the liberation struggle. Capt. Oliver Kizinga was one of these determined women. She lost three of her children and this made her vowed to support the liberation struggle to the end. Joyce Serwanika was a nurse, rebel informer and mobilizer. Capt. Janat Mukwaya who had eight years magistrate experience before joining the liberation was also one of the women who joined the war in its early days.

Upon toppling the government of Gen. Tito Okello Lutwa on 26th January 1986, president Museveni came with Movement Policies which saw the involvement of women in all sectors of the government. Women council came in place, ladies were given additional 1.5 point when joining university education. President Museveni also made the Constituent Assembly (CA) to be co-chaired by a woman, Prof. Victoria Mwaka. The Movement Policies also made it a point to involve women in the National Resistance Council(NRC) which enabled The Maria Matembes to join the house representing the then Mbarara. The president also embarked on different social change campaigns to end vices like Women circumcision in Sebei land and many others, and therefore making president Museveni be referred to as the Pioneer Of Women Empowerment in Uganda.

Education has been and still one of the tools that NRM government invested in to capacitate women in this country. In 1997, NRM government introduced, Universal Primary Education, a policy meant to see 100% of school going agers stay in school, and this happened to be a great blessings towards girl child education and now, the enrolment of girls in primary schools is at 53%, and girls aged 6-12 are reported to complete the required seven years of primary education, something that can be appreciated though a lot still needs to be done to curb teenage pregnancy in order to improve on their  enrollment in secondary schools, stay until they complete studies.

NRM government brought in place policies that created space for women to participate in both local and national politics. The 1995 Constitution and 1997 Local Government Act enabled women to be part of government decision-making structures. According to the constitution, One-third of local council members must be women, and minimum numbers are required for many local commissions and committees. Today, women in local government positions stands at 46% and 34% for those in parliament. In Uganda government cabinet, it increased from  27% to 43% including second top position in the country, Vice president position given to H. E Maj (Rtd)Jessica Alupo, a position held by a woman, Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe between between 1994 and 2003. The Prime minister who is the head of all government businesses is Rt.Hon Robina Nabbanja, not forgetting Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Anita Among.

In the forces, NRM government has proved to the world that women can be well trained and given opportunities to serve the state, there are over 1500 women serving in the UPDF including Brig. Flavia Bekwaso, who was the first female spokesperson of the force. Presidential adviser on military matters, Lt. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso, the highly ranked female army officer who is celebrated both in Uganda and across Africa. Other female army officers in top positions include Col. Annette Nkalabo and Brig. Rebecca Mpagi, director of personnel and administration in the UPDF Air force, the first woman to qualify as the Military Aircraft maintenance engineer.

Uganda Police Force has equally done great job in empowering women. The force always gives opportunities for women to take part in recruitment exercises. Over 770 of Uganda police officers are women and that translates to 18% and they are as well in the top positions among others AIGP Jessica Orodriyo and AIGP Elizabeth Muwanga.

Uganda government is also acknowledged for producing very potential women, capable enough to serve at international levels. There is a good number of Ugandan women who have served and others are still serving in high positions with different International Agencies. Hon. Atuku Oyella Betty Bigombe, a Ugandan politicians served as the Senior Director for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence at the World Bank from 2014 to 2017. Another great woman with NRM background playing  International role, is the wife of Uganda opposition politician and a business man, Col (Rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye. Winnie Byanyima is currently an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

As a country, Uganda possesses great justification for celebrating women's day and as well stands as one of the countries in Africa celebrated for prioritising women emancipation .

Peter Okello Oneka Lucoromoi Peterokello7@gmail.com