ISTR Sixth International Conference Toronto, Canada / July 11-14, 2004 Contesting Citizenship and Civil Society in a Divided World

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Civil society, women empowerment and decentralisation in Uganda
by
Apollo Nkwake Mukasa
Makerere University, Kampala

Civil Society, Women Empowerment And Decentralization In Uganda ABSTRACT By Apollo NKWAKE M Alfa DCC, Kampala Email: apollo@AVU.org There is widespread agreement about the fact that women are largely excluded from access to and control over local, national and international resources and decision making, and about the harm to human well being that results. And the empowerment of women all over the world has been a constant thrust in policies and programmes in the last five decades Since 1986 when the NRM government came into power, there has been an opening for women. It is with the advent of the NRM government that the democratization process began in Uganda. The government introduced a ten-point recovery programme and measures to increase the participation of all citizens in democratic decision-making, including marginalized groups like women. The government has tried to fight the cause for women emancipation through affirmative action and enacting gender sensitive policies. It has also established a relatively democratic environment that has allowed activities of women groups.

The Resistance Council (RC) system was aimed at facilitating people’s participation in national development through ensuring sound local level politics. And women’s involvement in political decision making through representation on Resistance Councils was stressed. The RC system evolved into the current decentralization policy, under the 1997 local government act. The policy as well provides ample opportunities for women to participate in local leadership. The local government act of 1997 provides that 30% of the seats and local councils are reserved for women. It also provides that the secretaries for women on village and parish councils are chairpersons of the women’s councils. These provisions are made to ensure that women achieve participation in decision - making from the grassroots. However, studies have shown that women are ill equipped to utilize these openings. Cultural and societal impediments prevent women from full participation in the political processes. One of the plausible solutions to this problem is civil society organizations. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) include a range of non government organisations formed by groups and individuals with common interests to impact development by enhancing opportunities or by combating misconceptions and methodological, ideological and cultural obstacles to the enhancement of the welfare of members or non members.

This paper attempts to analyze the potential role of civil society organizations in empowering women to participate in the political process in Uganda. It attempts to ascertain the extent to which civil society can be panacea to cultural and societal impediments that prevent women from full participation in political processes

Date received: August 20, 2003

Copyright © 2003 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # call-13.