Contrary to the common view that women emancipation and gender advancement in Uganda is a recent phenomenon, women’s aspiration for political leadership positions actually commenced 54 years ago, seven years even before independence.

So Uganda’s struggle for women advancement could be the oldest or at least among the oldest gender movements on the continent. The first women representation in the Ugandan parliament (then called Legislative Council – Legico) was in 1955. Between 1955-58, there were two women MPs: Pumla Kisosonkole and Babra Saben, constituting 3.3% of the overall parliament with 60 members.

From 1959 to 1960 the women representation in the national assembly increased to three: Joyce Mpanga, Frances Akello and Sarah Ntiro, translating into 5% of the membership in the national assembly.

However from 1960 to 1961 the women representation slipped to one member, Eseza Makumbi. The situation remained the same from 1962 to 1966 with Sugra Visram and 1966-1971 with Florence Lubega although parliament had increased to 92 members.       

Then the struggle for women advancement suffered a blow following the January 1971 coup by Idi Amin who abolished parliament and ruled by decree until 1979 when he was overthrown. 

The struggle resumed and 1979-80, there were two women MPs – Rhoda Kalema and Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, now minister of Education. Although the national assembly had grown in membership, women representation did not go up. It remained at two MPs thus bringing the women representation down to 1.2%.  

Between 1980-1985 Uganda’s parliament was 126 members with one woman MP. From July 1985-January 1986 there was no parliament following another military coup by the Tito Okello junta. 

However after the overthrow of the Lutwa junta in January 1986, women legislative representation frog-jumped and it has never slid back.

Between 1986-1989 a small council of the National Resistance Movement “historical” constituted themselves into a parliament (called National Resistance Council – NRC) of 31 members with 4 women: Olivia Zizinga, Gertrude Nuba, Janat Mukwaya and Rhoda Kalema. In percentage terms this translated into about 13%.

The participation of women in politics continued to rise and by 1994, women in the national assembly were 50 of the 280 members (17%). By 2001 women MPs were 52 and they subsequently rose to 72 (about 24%) by 2005 when parliament strength stood at 295 members.

Today out of the 332 members of parliament, women are about 100, which is about 30% representation in the national assembly.

This chronology is sufficient proof of the historical struggle for the women’s role in politics in Uganda. This has been strengthened by the constitutional provisions of Article 33 which calls for equal treatment of men and women in politics and the requirement for councils and parliament to have 30% women representation. It has been a long way for the Ugandan women but the status quo is getting better every passing year.  

For instance, in cabinet today, out of the 70 ministers, 17 are women. This translates into 24% of cabinet portfolios held by women. This signals a huge improvement in the country’s gender equality movement since independence when there were hardly any women in cabinet and top government positions.

There have also been tremendous improvements in gender equality in other government leadership posts such as district councils and resident district commissioners.

In terms of legislation, there has been a number of bills and policies seeking uplifting the status of women to that of their male counterparts both at national and sectoral levels. There is the Domestic Relations Bill before Parliament which seeks to promote women rights and freedoms. The Mariage and Divorce Bill seeking sharing of marital property between spouses upon dissolution of marriage is also in the offing.

Uganda has had a fair share of failings as an independent state, but in the foregoing, one of the successes the country can be confidently proud of today is the promotion of women emancipation and gender equality backed up by real action on the ground.

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