Women under the Uganda women’s Network (UWONET) have petitioned the speaker of parliament demanding to take over the leadership of country’s Electoral Commission.
The petition to the Speaker of Parliament was handed over by the members from the Uganda Women Network, Acfode, FOWODE, Isis Wiccc , Fida Uganda , Akina Mama wa Africa and Centre for Women in Governance, as part of the 3rd National Women’s week.
While presenting the petition to the speaker on behalf of the women organizations, the Executive Director of the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) Patricia Munabi also handed over a list of eight names of women on which the president should select while appointing the new electoral commission leadership.
Among the women to be selected on include former Minister for Ethics Miria Matembe, former Deputy Secretary General of the East African legislative Assembly Beatrice Kiraso ,the Chairperson of Uganda women’s Network Tezira Jamwa ,Irene Ovonji from Fida –Uganda, Solome Nakawesa, Christine Lawoka, Dr. Zahara Nampeewo and Prof. Florence Ahikire the dean of School Woman and Gender at Makerere University .
Munabi noted that the women are concerned that the current Electoral Commission leadership has only two women adding that the president should consider appointment of at least four women into the leadership of the commission.
“These Women are capable of heading the commission given the expertise and diligence they brought to positions of leadership when entrusted with authority in government institutions,”
The women demanded parliament to take note of their demand when time comes for vetting of the new leadership of the electoral commission after the president has appointed the new ones to replace the outgoing leadership headed by Dr. Badru Kiggundu.
The speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga welcomed the women’s effort and promised to bring the attention of the president to this matter.