William Cheptoek: As Uganda edges closer to another election cycle, women once again emerge as the invisible engine of political campaigns, singing, mobilizing, cooking, and canvassing votes, yet remain largely absent where it matters most: at the ballot and in leadership positions.
In the Sebei sub-region, which comprises Bukwo, Kween, and Kapchorwa districts, women describe an environment where political enthusiasm is quietly curtailed by fear, cultural expectations, and insecurity within the home. For many, the danger does not come from the polling station itself, but from what follows the disclosure of a political choice.
Kadijah Chebet, a well-known community mobiliser in Sebei, has witnessed this contradiction for years. She says women are indispensable during campaign periods, but their political agency often ends there.
“Women are very influential during campaigns. They mobilize voters, prepare meals, and compose songs to promote candidates,” Chebet explains. “But when it comes to voting or standing for office, many are stopped by their husbands, who accuse them of being disrespectful or acting against family interests.”
In many rural communities across Sebei, deeply rooted cultural norms continue to define leadership and political decision-making as a male preserve. Open disagreement with a husband, especially in public or political matters, is often interpreted as indiscipline or defiance, leaving women with little room to express independent political views.
Harriet Wanyenze, a political influencer and civic educator in the region, says intimidation within households has undermined years of voter education efforts.
“I see men stay away during rallies but turn up in big numbers on polling day,” Wanyenze observes. “Yet many women disappear. This shows there is fear and intimidation behind the scenes. It is a violation of democratic rights, and women must be educated and supported to participate fully in the electoral process.”
For some women, the fear is not abstract; it is lived daily. Agnes Chemutai, a mother of three from Kaplak Cell in Kapchorwa Municipality, says she has never voted according to her own conscience.
“My husband directs me on which candidate to vote for,” Chemutai recounts. “Out of fear, I obey because he is the father of my children.”
Younger women face a similar dilemma, often caught between political rights and parental authority. Abigail Chebet, a youth from Kween Parish, says some parents deliberately block eligible girls from participating in elections, citing fears of moral corruption or exposure to unwanted relationships during campaign periods.
“You are forced to choose between respecting your parents and exercising your right,” she says. “When you are still dependent on them, respect becomes the only option.”
Civil society organizations acknowledge that while voter education initiatives exist, their impact remains limited in the face of entrenched patriarchy.
Mark Cherop Cherirei, Programmes Officer at the Kapchorwa Civil Society Organizations Alliance, notes that suppression is often disguised as care and protection.
“Cultural practices that exclude women from meetings and decision-making spaces have demoralized them,” Cherop explains. “Many fear losing their marriages if they assert their rights. Progress is being made, but it will take time.”
Local government officials echo the call for sustained engagement. Kapchorwa District Community Development Officer Harriet Aseko argues that civic education should not be confined to election seasons.
“Women’s understanding of democracy and electoral rights should not be seasonal,” Aseko says. “Sensitization must be ongoing so that women can appreciate the value of their participation at all times.” As Uganda prepares for yet another election cycle, the reality in Sebei paints a sobering picture. Women remain the backbone of political mobilization, yet patriarchal pressure and security fears continue to reduce them to passive decision-makers. Until these underlying barriers are addressed, their voices will remain loud in campaign songs but silent in the choices that shape the nation’s future.
