By The Minister of State for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Hon. Peace Regis Mutuuzo, has expressed concern over what she termed a growing “backlash” against women’s participation in Uganda’s political leadership, warning that the country risks reversing decades of progress in gender equality and representation.
Speaking during a press briefing on women’s participation in the ongoing political season, Mutuuzo said Uganda had once recorded consistent growth in the number of women holding political positions rising from 2% in 1964 to 35% in 2020 but recent trends show stagnation and even a decline in women’s representation.
“From the 1960s to the early 2000s, we saw steady progress. But the last election showed a drop from 35% to about 33%,” Mutuuzo said. “This stagnation is an indicator of backlash not only in politics but also in the broader struggle for women’s human rights.”
The minister noted that while affirmative action had played a key role in increasing women’s participation, it had also unintentionally reinforced stereotypes that women should only contest for reserved seats.
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“The creation of affirmative action gave an impression that women have their own seats and therefore the open seats are a no-go zone,” she said. “This perception is one of the subtle forms of violence we must address. The Constitution does not bar women from contesting on open seats, but the ground realities make it almost impossible.”
Mutuuzo cited historical data showing that the number of women who have successfully contested open constituency seats remains alarmingly low — rising from 2% (9 out of 280 MPs) in 1989 to just 16 women in 2021.
She pointed out that gender-based violence, financial constraints, lack of civic education, and restrictive social norms remain major barriers to women’s political participation.
“Many women still have to seek permission from their husbands to contest,” Mutuuzo explained. “Even when they have the qualifications, they face intimidation, limited access to campaign resources, and societal pressure that discourages them from public leadership.”
The minister also raised concerns over the timing and accessibility of civic education, saying that most awareness programmes are scheduled when women are occupied with domestic work.
“When civic education is conducted during news hours, women are cooking or caring for their families. They are the first to wake up and the last to go to bed. By the time they are free, the message has already passed,” Mutuuzo said, calling for alternative outreach strategies targeting rural and working women.
Mutuuzo concluded by urging political parties, civil society, and the media to amplify women’s voices and promote equitable participation in all levels of governance ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“Women are capable. They have the ideas, the energy, and the vision to lead. What we need is a supportive environment that allows them to participate freely and fairly,” she said.
