The Uganda National Women’s Council has weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding the next Speaker of Parliament, saying its main concern is not necessarily having a woman occupy the top parliamentary leadership position, but ensuring that whoever assumes office advances the women’s agenda.
The remarks follow the withdrawal of former Speaker Anita Among from the race and the endorsement of Jacob Oboth-Oboth for Speaker and Thomas Tayebwa for Deputy Speaker — a development that has significantly reduced the chances of a woman holding either of the two top parliamentary positions.
Addressing journalists at the Council offices in Ntinda, Uganda National Women’s Council Chairperson Hajjat Faridah Kibowa said women in Uganda have, over the years, benefited from opportunities created by the NRM government and President Yoweri Museveni.
“We’ve had an opportunity. The Parliament of Uganda entrusted women with those positions for almost 20 years — first as Deputy Speaker and now as Speaker. What we advocated for, we have achieved, and we celebrate that,” Kibowa said.
She, however, urged women not to feel sidelined if the positions are this time occupied by men.
“If we do not get it, I don’t want women to feel demoralized. We have had the opportunity, and if it has not favored us this time around, we should not think that the government has forgotten us,” she said.
Kibowa emphasized that what matters most is having leaders who understand and support women’s interests.
“We want someone who will push the women’s agenda because that is what matters. The President is a man, yet he has been at the forefront of championing the women’s agenda,” she noted.
She added that women can still serve in other influential government positions beyond the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
“It is not only about being Speaker or Deputy Speaker. Women can also serve in Cabinet and other decision-making positions,” she said.
The Women’s Council chairperson also urged women leaders to serve diligently whenever entrusted with leadership opportunities, warning that society often judges all women based on the mistakes of one individual.
“If one woman does something wrong, the whole community says, ‘You see what women have done.’ They do not say the same about men,” Kibowa observed.
She called for merit-based appointments, saying women leaders should always remember they represent all women in the country.
“When you are given an opportunity to serve, do so knowing that you represent a group of women. When you succeed, we all benefit from that success, and when things go wrong, all women are targeted,” she added.
Commenting on the ongoing investigations involving outgoing Speaker Anita Among, Kibowa said women should avoid celebrating the troubles facing one of their own.
“For us as women, whatever happens to one woman is often attached to all women, which should not be the case,” she said.
“In this circumstance, it is unfortunate, but my prayer is that if the investigations are conducted fairly, she will come out of it. We should allow the investigations to take place and continue praying for her,” she added.
Kibowa maintained that the Council has no issue with the endorsement of Jacob Oboth-Oboth and Thomas Tayebwa, as long as they prioritize women’s issues once elected.
“We do not want to focus too much on gender now. We want to focus on the women’s agenda,” she said.
The election of the Speaker is slated for Monday, May 25, with DP President Norbert Mao and the recently endorsed Jacob Oboth-Oboth emerging as possible contenders for the position.
For the Deputy Speaker position, Thomas Tayebwa appears to have a strong chance of retaining the seat after receiving endorsement from the Patriotic League of Uganda, led by its founder and Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
