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December 2015 Elections heighten Bya GWEN Team Besigye because he has been consistent in fighting for people’s rights. But for me my You and me may know that voting in the choice is Yoweri Museveni for emancipat- 2016 General Elections will be by secret ing women, but I fear, my husband will get domestic ballot; but there are thousands of people to know and beats me up. especially women who are living in fear But already some women are loud and at the hands of their providers / partners. clear: they will vote a candidate of their Reason: they “are to vote” for a candidate choice… Come rain or sunshine! And as dictated by the partner / providers! you guessed right, the ‘providers’ are Robinah Nakyanja says, “My husband already feeling uncomfortable about this violence insists that I should vote Colonel Dr. Kiiza pronouncement. Turn to Page 2 2 GWEN NEWS Volume 6 Issue 3 december 2015 GWEN OPINION Safety and security of the self, in the 2016 elections, starts with you! Uganda goes to the polls in Febru- Women are ready to ary 2016! But while all categories of cast their vote for can- people are expected to exercise their didates of their choice, constitutional right to choose their but to some its a huge leaders in fair and free elections, sacrifice. there are indicators that majority population may not be that lucky. How to minimize domestic These are women, especially those living in disadvantaged situations. They lack information to make violence during elections informed decisions, and many are From Page 1 living under threat meted out by Providers are up in the air – a number of men period? their husbands / partners, that if they are denying their families the basic necessi- lRemember voting will be secret ballot. don’t vote for a candidate of their ties especially food; the beatings have gone Nobody will know who you have voted for! benefactor’s choice, they will suffer up; some women divorced because they have lDon’t get so excited about elections or the refused to say Yes to their husbands’ wishes. candidate or a party you are going to vote for. consequences. The apparent dis- But even then, some men aspiring for elective Stay calm! franchisement of women is visible positions have sold household property to fi- lIf you feel your partner / colleague may not even after the affirmative action as nance their campaigns. Yet again some women, like your choice….. pretend you support his/ provided for in the constitution that also aspiring for positions, are taking too many her candidate / party. a day out of their homes, searching for votes. lWhether husband or wife, and you are women will, at the very minimum And the children?.... they are left to fend for, or seeking for an elective position, do not let be represented with a one third counsel themselves, some will definitely end on the campaign time impact on the family time. quota at lower government levels, the streets engaged in all sorts of crimes!” Remember, there is a life after elections! and a representation at every district. Harriet Nabankema, Senior Advocate lDo not provoke your partner / colleague with FIDA-Uganda observes that spouses because you suspect he/she is supporting a supporting different candidates are prone to candidate, of not your choice. It is his/her right It is therefore a welcome move by more domestic violence, poverty and unemploy- to support whoever! the EAGWEN partners, with sup- ment, facilitating this even more. As long as lDo not sell any of the family property to port from the Norwegian Women a man brings food to the table, he will tend finance your campaign. But if you have to, to make rules to the extent of influencing a your partner and children must approve of that and Family Association (NWF), and woman’s voting rights, including standing for decision, but this should not, in a way leave the FOKUS, that time and other forms an elective office. family wanting in basic or social needs. of resources have been put aside to Richard Makumbi, Program Officer, lIf you decided to contest for an elective create awareness among grassroots Centre for Domestic Violence observes: position, this should not come as a surprise to “Election period is enough to ignite pressure your partner or children. A progressive / sensi- women, on the political process that between lovers, especially those supporting tive political leader must be supported by the will lead to the February 2016 elec- different candidates”. whole family, no matter the difference in choice tions. Such scenarios are very synonymous with for a candidate. the election period, especially in developing lHusband or wife / man or woman, should countries, and according to Stephen Kalyegira, practice a world view that accepts and respects This will go a long way in promot- Inspector of Police, Kira Road Police Station, differences in opinion. ing their effective participation in most of the offenses reported at police, at this lOnce the voting is finished, results declared, that national program. It is also time relate to domestic confrontations fuelled the family should stay calm, and congratulate important that safety and security by differences in opinion on who to vote for. In yourselves on a successfully concluded exer- extreme cases, spouses have been killed, by cise. And if you have to contest the results – do of any participating person in such partners. it in a calm way! a process, is taken as a personal responsibility instead of waiting for So how do we minimize on domestic government to help’! violence incidences during this election GWEN NEWS 3 Volume 6 Issue 3 december 2015 EAGWEN partners recommit to women’s effective participation in elections By GWEN Team Member organizations to The East African Grassroots Women Network (EAGWEN), in August recommitted themselves to ensuring that the women they serve will fully participate in the 2016 elections, slated for 2016. The three participating organizations, are: Maganjo Farmers Association (MAFA), Companion- ship of Works Association (COWA), and Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA). At a three-day annual conference held in August, at Namirembe Guest House, members explored ways of facilitating the women to the electoral pro- cesses. Some of the areas identified included: rais- ing women’s awareness, and training them in basic communication skills on the political processes. Romana Bilak, COWA, added that it is also important to keep close with the women, even after the voting is done. She says: “It is this time Participants at a that women’s specific needs should be identi- workshop on women fied to make long-term programs to help them and politics. sustain their participation in politics or leadership positions”. She adds, “If it is gender budgeting, for national programs, then this is the time to train identified glaring gaps among grassroots women with electoral women at local levels to participate in the budget- when it comes to expressing themselves in public violence. ing processes at least at the sub-county or village especially when one is expressing interest in a The presentation was made by Alfred Avuni, levels”. political office. Says Joan Nankya: “It is important working with John Paul II Justice and Peace The partner organizations’ recommitment was to train women in basic communication, and lead- Centre. He dwelt on the history of women’s ignited by a presentation on “The Role of Women ership skills to facilitate them on how to mingle in participation in politics. What the law provides to Focused NGOs in preparing Grassroots Women a rather hostile environment”. enhance women’s visibility in politics; how and for 2016 Elections” on the electoral processes, Other areas where the partner organizations where women have impacted in terms of decision starting with the Voters Register where all intend- vowed to impact relate with providing safety making. Other areas including challenges faced by ing voters, have to ensure that their names are and security tips for grassroots women so they grassroots women, and their achievement in the captured, therein. The partner organizations, also can avoid any trouble that would be associated political processes of Uganda. Grassroots women gear up to elective positions By MAFA Team While individual women in the country have overcome these ob- Uganda will hold elections in stacles with great acclaim, and often February 2016 to elect a president, to the benefit of society at large, members of parliament (MPs) and women as a whole, the playing local councilors (LCs) but the ques- field needs to be leveled, opening tion still remains, how much has the opportunities for all. While the situ- country done to address the factors ation is as such for many women in that have kept the numbers of the country, it is worse for the rural women in politics less than men. women that are already marginalized There have been several improve- by the poverty and powerlessness. ments in the country in the legal and Maganjo Farmers Association’s policy framework. Several policies, After a sustained sensitization program on leadership and participa- rules and procedures have been put campaign by MAFA, there's hope tion therefore provides training for in place with an aim of improving that the coming elections will see women in political leadership and the status of women. more women participating. participation, to help build their The seemingly friendly legislative capacities, and offer voter and civic framework that provides for affirma- education and sensitization cam- tive action in the Uganda Constitu- of women’s lives. institutions and practices still limit paigns on gender equality. tion of 1995, the Gender policies Even with such a conducive policy women’s options to run for office.

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