State Minister for Public Service and Woman MP for Mbale City Lydia Wanyoto has urged women legislators to mobilize political party support to strengthen the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) and increase female leadership across Parliamentary committees.
Speaking during the induction of women MPs under UWOPA, Wanyoto expressed concern that key leadership positions in Parliament remain male-dominated, and called for deliberate action to place more women on decision-making platforms including the Parliamentary Commission.
“There is need to mobilize the positive energies from political parties to build UWOPA. Political parties are the vehicles through which we get to Parliament, so they must also invest in building the capacity and unity of women legislators once we are here,” Wanyoto said.
Wanyoto argued that increasing the number of women chairing and deputy-chairing committees would give women greater influence over legislation, budgeting, and oversight. She also pushed for structural changes within Parliament’s top management.
“Women must be on the table of the Parliamentary Commission. The Commission is male dominated and hence the need to have more women on the Commission. If we are not in the room where decisions about Parliament’s administration, budget and welfare are made, then we will continue fighting from the margins,” she stated.
The Minister further faulted the National Resistance Movement [NRM] and other parties for not fielding enough women in winnable seats, saying parties must do more to meet gender equity targets.
“NRM should consider choosing more women. We cannot keep talking about 40% representation when party structures continue to sideline women during primaries and nominations. Leadership of Parliament was taken by men, but UWOPA should fight for all women, including those we may disagree with politically,” Wanyoto added.
She emphasized that UWOPA’s role extends beyond party lines and must protect the interests of every woman legislator.
“UWOPA should fight for all women, not just those from one side. Our strength is in unity, and that unity must translate into real leadership positions for women in committees and on the Parliamentary Commission,” she said.
The induction brought together new and returning women MPs to set priorities for the 12th Parliament, with committee leadership elections and Parliamentary Commission nominations expected in the coming weeks.
