Arthur Wadero: Article 32 of Uganda’s Constitution is tailored to, among other things, cure the imbalances amongst marginalized persons such as youth, persons with disabilities, and women. In so doing, the architects of the country’s supreme law sought to push for justice, promote equality and also ensure that all persons play a fair role in the country’s decision-making at all levels.
To this end, specific parliamentary seats were for such groups, key among them being the slot for the City or District Woman Representative across the country.
This has, however met a string of challenges as the majority of women who attempt to, for example, contest for Parliamentary seats outside women-MP-seats are mostly frowned at. Such low presence of women legislators in Parliament still stands pronounced as detailed in the Fourth Strategic Plan of Parliament.
“Regarding gender composition, the male MPs constituted the majority at 66%, while female Members accounted for 34 per cent. It is worth noting that the majority of the female MPs occupied affirmative action seats, with directly elected women members constituting only 7.4%,” the strategic plan launched at Parliament in September last year reads in part.
While delivering remarks on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, the Commissioner of Parliament, Esther Afoyochan, pledged that Parliament administration would undertake all necessary efforts to ensure that the plan is fully implemented. This includes offering more opportunities for women legislators across the political divide.
This has been a pronounced case in several election circles, something that prompted experts like Miriam Wanjiru, at the Centre for Multilateral Affairs (CFMA) devote efforts to remedy the situations responsible for the imbalance.
Experts at the CFMA outline drivers of such imbalances to include online platforms, telecommunications networks, and data systems, which in essence, facilitate civic participation and election administration.
Consequently, CFMA says, “this transformation also introduces material risks to material rights and electoral integrity.” And this, once badly used, fuels the occurrence of a deep and wide presence of digital-based violence.
Like her counterparts at the same entity, Wanjiru has, since the start of full-blown political campaigns in November 2025, deployed approaches such as the Digital Rights & Elections in Africa Monitors toolkit (DREAMT). Wanjiru revealed that this kit would be deployed “as the common field guide for observers and monitors across and the pre-election, election-day, and post-election phases.
When asked, Rachael Babwetera-fashion designer at an outlet domiciled at Zainab Arcade in Kampala lauded CFMA for the initiative to tackle gender-based violence which is largely pelted at female politicians.
“I hardly read newspapers or even watch TV news, and this leaves me with the option of following political events using Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) on my phone while at work,” Babwetera said.
She added, “Since the campaigns started, I noticed that some people use the comments section on such platforms to demean female candidates. They are attacked because of the way they dress or articulate issues, and yet this rarely happens to men. I find it to be unfair.”
Esther Namusoke, one of the political handlers and a member of the Steven Mayombwe who is vying to retain his seat as the LC3 Councillor for Luwafu in Makindye division, strongly supports such efforts devoted towards tackling digital-based gender violence.
“I feel like such initiatives should have happened before the start of the elections period so that people like me who directly handle matters on social media campaign platforms are well prepared,” Namusoke said.
She added, “I am however, happy that such plans are now in place to help where entities like the Electoral Commission has not appeared.”
Ongoing campaigns have witnessed several politicians take to digital-based spaces to canvas for political support as they popularize their manifestos. Such candidates include the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine and Abraham Luzzi who is contesting to become the Member of Parliament for Kampala Central.
