Minister slammed for telling Ugandan men to "keep off" Afghan women

The minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi has been slammed for her ‘joke’ about Afghanistan refugee women who are expected in the country as part of the 2000 refugees that Uganda is set to host.

Amongi ‘joked’ in a tweet, saying that she hopes Ugandan men who are jubilant about the news of the Afghanistan women coming to Uganda are not ‘stingy.’

"I have seen our Ugandan men praying for safe landing of Afghanistan refugees, and sharing various photos of ladies as below. They are promising total support and cooperation with government this time on this project! hope it's not Stingy men Association,” the minister tweeted.

But a number of people have slammed Amongi, saying that it is ‘misogynistic’ for the gender minister to objectify women, especially refugees who often get sexually harassed in refugee camps.

"Uganda is (now) making headlines for being a very misogynistic country that makes jokes about the trauma of women! Refugee women in camps get sexually harassed, assaulted, trafficked...but misogynists felt objectification is a cool joke!” Nakayiza Safina, a feminist said.

Hillary Taylor, a Ugandan based in the USA said that the government should respect women and wants the minister to apologise for her joke.

"Respect Women. Respect refugees. That “minister” should retract her ridiculous statements and apologise to the world," Taylor said.

"A woman in power jesting about women fleeing sexual enslavement. A tasteless insensitive jest!” Another user said.

Some Ugandans however sided with Amongi and went with the flow of the tweet, saying that Ugandans love humorous situations and this was just one of those.

Amongi in her defence said that she was only reacting to online comments.