By William Cheptoek: As Uganda concludes the electoral cycle, the outcomes have once again reflected a political landscape dominated by men, with women securing few key leadership positions.
In the Sebei sub-region comprising Bukwo, Kween, and Kapchorwa districts, women continue to play an active role in community mobilization and development discussions, yet their participation in electoral decision-making remains constrained by fear, cultural pressure, and insecurity.
Many women in Sebei say that although their voices are often vibrant, informed, and rooted in lived community experience, leaders are hesitant to associate with them due to their firm positions on human rights, gender equity, and accountability.
Benna Chelangat, a resident of Kwonu Cell in East Division, Kapchorwa Municipality, describes herself as a passionate advocate for leadership and women’s rights. She says the recent elections saw many women refrain from active participation due to threats and fear of reprisals. Despite this, the same women are now calling on leaders who were elected to embrace equitable leadership that reflects the needs of both men and women.
Chelangat explains that inclusive leadership is critical for better service delivery, as women understand issues affecting girls and women from multiple angles, including health, education, water access, and household livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Chebet, another resident, says many women who stayed home during the elections depended heavily on local radio stations for election-related information.
“We didn’t receive first-hand information from our electoral areas because of fear and paying allegiance to our spouses. So, the radio played a big role in feeding us with the information,” Chebet says.
Her experience highlights the central role of community radio in reaching women who cannot attend rallies or political meetings due to domestic and cultural constraints.
Agnes Kiprop, a resident of Burkoyen in the West division, says leaders entrusted with public offices have an obligation to ensure that every citizen is brought on board to benefit from leadership outcomes. She urges those in leadership to take advantage of free and constructive advice from influential women who work closely with communities on a daily basis.
“We are the ones who use the streams that need to be improved. We are the same women who sell produce in the markets. We are the same women who first detect sickness in a child. If women are empowered, Sebei can become a great center of prosperity guided by women,” Kiprop notes.
Beatrice Chelangat, the Executive Director of Reproductive, Educative and Community Health (REACH), a non-governmental organization championing girls’ rights and the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), says empowering women with leadership information enables them to distinguish between good and harmful practices and inspires them to take action.
Chelangat recalls her own bold decision to lobby Parliament, which contributed to the passing of laws that helped bring an end to FGM.
“Sabiny culture, especially around harmful practices like FGM, is very rigid. But it can come to an end with the help of female advocates who are bold and ready to face off with men,” Chelangat says.
She adds that although men understand that voting is a right for women, some still insist on restricting their participation due to self-proclaimed superiority.
Chelangat emphasizes the need for continuous voter education to help women fully understand and exercise their electoral rights.
Merisa Cheptegei, the LC V Chairperson of Bukwo District, says gender inequity in electoral decision-making and voting remains prevalent in rural areas of Sebei, including Kapsarur in Bukwo District, Benet in Kween District, and Teryet in Kapchorwa District.
She agrees that newly elected leaders, particularly Members of Parliament and district chairpersons, must take women’s concerns seriously to find lasting solutions.
“We are all citizens, whether men or women, and we have equal rights in a democracy,” Cheptegei says.
Alfred Bosco Chericha, an opinion leader in Sebei, calls for the inclusion of cultural institutions in civic education efforts to ensure democratic and gender-sensitive information reaches rural communities.
Chericha argues that culturally respectful approaches, such as proper greetings and dialogue-based communication, can help women understand their political rights without creating conflict within households.
“Sometimes civic educators focus only on women and use communication that undermines men, which in one way or another brings conflicts in families,” Chericha says.
He believes engaging men alongside women will strengthen democratic participation and reduce resistance to women’s political involvement.
As Sebei looks beyond the elections, women leaders, activists, and community members are urging those entrusted with power to prioritize inclusive governance, one that values women not just as voters, but as equal partners in development.
