Since the mid-1990s, the Ugandan government has introduced legislation to ensure that women are represented on local councils. What has changed as a result of this affirmative action? This article for Gender and Development looks at both the positive and negative impact of women’s presence in local government. It finds that although there is now greater acceptance of women community leaders, their influence over public decision making remains limited.
Uganda’s 1995 Constitution and 1997 Local Government Act paved the way for women’s inclusion in government decision-making structures. One-third of local council members must be women, and minimum numbers are required for many local commissions and committees. More widely, government decentralisation has shifted decision-making closer to the village level, which should allow women greater influence over local development. In reality, local government elections in 1998 swept many women into politics without sufficient preparation. The long-term impact of their increased involvement on councils is not yet clear. However, a series of interviews with district and community-level officials and civil society groups highlights positive and negative developments relating to affirmative action.
On the plus side, the rise in the number of women on local councils has increased their confidence in, and use of, local courts to tackle problems like abuse. It has led to positive female role models, encouraging women to get involved in community activities and also changing men’s attitudes. However, some problems remain:
- The effectiveness of legislation for affirmative action is undermined by a lack of resources to support the relevant ministry and local departments.
- Some women councillors lack the confidence to express their opinions in meetings, causing others to dismiss their potential contribution. They are seen as ineffective or easily swayed. Women’s lack of exposure to and understanding of, local government procedures and subjects, which is one of several obstacles to their influencing council outputs, has prevented them from significantly influencing council outputs and budget decisions.
- While some see increased freedom for women as positive, there is also the view that greater community involvement will result in negative changes to cultural norms and traditions.
- Men fear, for example, that their wives will become financially independent and leave them, or that they will become uncontrollable. In this way, an improved status of women threatens men’s self-image.
The ability of women to participate actively in decisions about resource allocation must be monitored and supported at local and national government levels. Few specific policy recommendations are given, but the problems highlighted suggest:
- Providing adequate human, financial and technical resources to government institutions working to enable women’s political participation.
- Providing education and training so that women can acquire the skills necessary for effective political participation. That might include learning about technical jargon and council procedures.
- Addressing men’s fears about greater independence for women and their own self-image during this time of change.
- Tackling entrenched views about the participation of older women, as well as the higher standards and qualifications demanded of women candidates over their male counterparts.
- Helping women overcome barriers to participation, including inadequate finances and time.
