By Ainebyoona Timothy
Neglect pomp; honor women through actions.
In Uganda, as in many parts of the world, investing in women is increasingly recognized as essential for societal progress and development. However, despite efforts to promote gender equality and inclusion, significant societal biases and gaps persist within legal systems, economic and social structures thus, impeding the full realization of women`s potential.
Uganda, like many other countries, grapples with deep-rooted societal biases that perpetuate gender inequality. These biases manifest in various forms, including cultural norms, stereotypes and institutional practices that disadvantage women in both public and private spaces. Even with the existence of often looked at like great laws, that stipulate clearly the sharp edges of equality and non-discrimination like the Employment Act, our minds are still unconscious to the reality that women are paid less and expected to deliver like their male colleagues at work.
Another glaring example of societal bias is the persistence of laws that discriminate against women, particularly in matters such as inheritance, property rights and marriage. Despite constitutional provisions guaranteeing equality, customary laws often take precedence and perpetuate discriminatory practices. For instance, the Customary Law Amendment Act of 2007 failed to fully address discriminatory practices in inheritance, leaving women vulnerable to property grabbing and disinheritance.
Moreover, gaps in legal protections exacerbate women`s vulnerability to various forms of violence and exploitation. We have continuously known that this is a public secret for women to have unequal access to justice and have failed to conscious the unconscious exclusion of women in decision-making processes.
One of the key shortcomings as regards to approach to gender inclusion is the failure to effectively challenge and transform deep-seated patriarchal norms and attitudes. Despite efforts to enact gender-responsive policies and laws, the entrenched gender inequality requires a more comprehensive and sustained approach that addresses root causes and promotes cultural change.
Of course, there have been initiatives to promote women`s participation in decision-making processes, such as affirmative action measures and quotas but these efforts often fall short of achieving meaningful and impactful representation. Most women in these spaces where have been supported by patriarchal, capitalistic and oppressive establishments that are aware that this selective inclusion will not be of any profit to the larger feminine populace.
It is therefore right to assert that the celebrated women have no meaningful impact but just a mere representation that is lost on the women`s agenda ideology.
Additionally, women continue to be used as baits for tokenism when appointed in key leadership positions; this way they are meant to pay allegiance and be grateful to the master for having been rewarded. The independent mindedness of Supreme Court Judge Dr. Esther Kisaakye was interpreted as a throwing spanner attitude to a 46-paged constitution court petition where everyone expected her to play to the choreographed court process. This in and of itself implies that women in leadership roles are as a managed stage scene for optics of representation but are not crucial to address unequal access to justice.
Women`s active participation in the work force has yielded multi-faceted benefits. You just need to have an up close with the so many Maama Naaki`s who brace the cold evenings and mornings in Kalerwe market to make a living. They have single-handedly provided basic needs to their households. They only need equal access to finance and market opportunities as catalysts to innovate in the food-processing sector but they only got heroic praises from President Museveni during COVID 19 lockdown for having slept in market places for weeks. The not dignifying nature of work should be acknowledged through policy inclusion rather than glorifying women`s suffering.
Whereas programs like the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) have yielded progress in building opportunities for women, there is still so much work to do to address deep-rooted gender inequalities like education for all, reproductive health care and enabling public-private partnerships for women to overcome barriers in investment.
Investing in women is not only a matter of social justice but also a strategic imperative for Uganda`s economic development. By prioritizing gender equality and womens’ empowerment, Uganda will unlock her untapped female population potential and further accelerate progress towards sustainable development.
Like this year`s theme for International Women`s Day celebrations, it is through inclusive policies, targeted interventions for women and concerted efforts from all of us that we shall have a more equitable and prosperous future.
