This paper considers the position of women in politics in Uganda. It argues that the mode of electing women to parliament, and the interpretation of the reserved seats, has also meant that women representatives have found it difficult to challenge the government in controversial matters.

The paper is divided into five parts, following the introduction it considers

• the positive effects of having separate elections for women, emphasising that after the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came to power, a number of gender sensitive issues have been put on the agenda
• the way women are elected to parliament and the relationship between female representatives, electoral colleges and the NRM government
• women as representatives of political parties and the gender perspectives of the political parties in the opposition
• the fifth and final section summarises the discussion and asks: Is the gender – equality debate in Uganda dependent on the no-party movement political system?

The document concludes that it is not only the women who have achieved a lot after the NRM take-over. Also, the NRM have achieved a lot securing support by female voters. The Ugandan female legislators may have less real power, but strong symbolic power. To some extent the district women representatives have until now symbolically reflected the gender-friendly NRM agenda. Thus, the reserved seats in Parliament have fostered loyalty and satisfaction among the voters, especially the female voters. [adapted from the author]

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PUBLISHER About: Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI), Norway

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