Ugandan Women Demand 50/50 Representation in Parliament with Men

A section of women rights activists have demanded for amendments in the 1995 Constitution of Uganda to provide for equal number of men and women elected to Parliament. 

The women made the demands during a radio talk show hosted on Hope Radio, Kabale on March 4, 2025, to discuss women emancipation ahead of the International Women’s Day Celebrations on March 8. 

This year’s National Celebrations are set to be held in Kyankwanzi District.

The Executive Director of Kigezi Women In Development – KWID, Ms. Florence Tumuheirwe argued that the current 186 women out of 529 Mps in the 11th Parliament, was an indication of a “Big gap” in the “inclusive leadership strategies” laid down by the NRM Government that has been in power for close to 40 years. 

Her statements were in response to the Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige who recently stated that the NRM Government had made large strides in women empowerment, by affirmatively gazetting Woman Mp seats in each of the current 146 Districts.

“In 1962, we had only two women out of the 92 Members of Parliament, but today we have 186, and 146 of them were elected affirmatively” Mwesige said while addressing the 2nd Women’s Parliament on Monday.

However, Ms. Tumuheirwe said that the percentage of women in the 11th Parliament (35%) was still “very low” and not reflecting the numbers in the total population of Uganda. 

“For example, women make up the largest number whenever UBOS carries out National Census. Why are the numbers not reflected in Parliament? This is unfair.”

She proposed that the constitution should be amended to allow only two Mps, a man and woman from each of the current 146 Districts, in order to equate the number of women and men in Parliament.

 “This will not only serve to bring gender equality. It will also help to reduce the size of Parliament and hence reduction of Public expenditure on the institution.”

Ms. Grace Ankunda Bwesigye who has twice contested against Shadow Attorney General Wilfred Niwagaba for Mp Ndorwa East, without success, seconded Ms. Tumuheirwe’s proposal.

Ms. Ankunda who has now shifted her fishing nets to the Kabale District Woman Mp seat, says it was unfair for Government to gazette only one seat for women while opening other Mp slots to everyone, including men.

“Imagine in a District like ours (Kabale) where there are about four slots, only one is gazetted for women. You know I have tried to contest and take up one of them, but it’s difficult because of the so many traditional challenges associated with being a woman in Africa,” she said.

Ms. Nahabwe Viola who also unsuccessfully contested for Mp Kabale Municipality in the 2021 general election said there was need for strengthening the women’s league positions in the Multiparty politics, so as to enable women compete with men at all levels, including Parliament.

“If we had strong contenders emerging from the women leagues at Political party level, we would have the capacity to battle men at all levels, but the NRM Government has instead focussed on suppressing the other Political parties in order to stay at the top” said Ms. Nahabwe who subscribes to the UPC party.

However, while speaking on the same radio talk show, the Kagadi Resident District Commissioner, Ms. Lillian Ruteraho disagreed with the idea to equate the number of men and women in Parliament through constitutional amendments, arguing that the problem was not the law, but the African Traditional Setting which allowed more men into leadership.

“You can imagine Government has gazetted a Woman Mp seat in each District, but still the women are few in Parliament. It’s because of the African Traditional Setting where women are not at the same level with men when it comes to leadership. Even if the constitution was amended, this tradition would not change, because men will always be heads of the African Traditional Society.”

Ms. Ruteraho acknowledged the need to increase the number of women in leadership positions, but insisted that they should be grateful that the NRM Government has been affirmatively lifting their status by gazetting Political positions, and also setting aside funds in each of the Wealth Creation programs to ensure that they are liberated from the traditional economic suppression.

“Aside from gazetting the woman Mp seats and other Political positions, the NRM Government has set aside women empowerment funds such as UWEP and GROW. All other programs such as PDM, Emyooga, YLP have a women’s component, because Government is aware of the gender based challenges faced by women in Uganda.”

Ms. Ruteraho who has declared interest in contesting for the Isingiro Woman Mp seat in the coming election, asked her fellow women to take advantage of the available opportunities and climb not only the political, but also the social-economic ladders.