As Uganda enters the decisive stretch toward the 2026 General Elections, The Other Voice (TOV) December Edition turns its gaze to the shifting terrain of political participation, where opportunity, exclusion, courage, and contradiction collide, particularly for women.
This edition traces how women experience and respond to an election season that is increasingly monetized and digitally hostile. ‘In How Women Vendors Turned the 2026 Campaign Frenzy into Income’, we spotlight informal sector women carving out survival strategies within campaign economies. In contrast, ‘Money Politics Lock Women Out’ exposes how escalating voter demands are pushing many female aspirants, particularly in Rwenzori, out of the race altogether.
Across the country, women are confronting power head-on. A young Wakiso district-based Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate speaks candidly about intimidation and the hidden pressures of political life, while women in Lango and West Nile challenge deeply rooted norms that continue to favor male dominance in leadership. In Sebei, women voters remain central to mobilization efforts yet are sidelined from decision-making, revealing a democracy that values turnout more than voice.
We also turn to emerging threats shaping the 2026 landscape. Civil society organizations are escalating efforts to counter digital gender-based violence, an increasingly potent tool of political silencing during elections. As polling day draws closer, ‘Where Will You Be in the Week Ahead of the General Election?’ invites reflection on civic responsibility beyond the ballot.
Together, these stories ask difficult but necessary questions about power, access, and whose participation truly counts. Welcome to the December Edition of The Other Voice, reporting women’s political realities with urgency, depth, and accountability.
Olive Nakatudde
