Women Politicians In Uganda

"Questions around how to conquer corruption are the reason the African Anti-Corruption Day was delegated by the African Union, to shift Africa to throw back on the causes and effects of corruption then work out solutions to end it and consequently redeem us from the chains of this subjections"

"There are some landlords who have even bought masks for everybody that rents in their arcades. But we are still begging and mediating. A few are still refusing to help and we are still talking to them, because there is no low that compels them. It has to come from their heart; forgiveness comes from the heart. Other landlords have agreed to forgive one month, others two and others the entire period."

"Together with Minister (Amelia) Kyambadde we have had many meetings and I want to thank some landlords who have agreed to forgive rent to their clients for the entire lockdown period"

"And so we are organizing a meeting so they can meet the president. I thank God because the president we have has a soft heart; I know he will accept to meet them for the people of Uganda."

"They told us they didn’t want hear from me, or from Betty Kamya, or Hon Kyambadde or Katumba Wamala. They just want the request to come from the president"

"I know UPE graduates who are running serious government projects. Isn’t this good progress?”."

"I hear many people still referring to me as Maama UPE and I feel humbled. I traversed every corner of the country encouraging parents to send children to school. I dedicated my teaching career to this program and I believe that I left an indelible mark on both UPE and USE"

"I have the education sector at heart because my parents could not afford much, but they ensured that I studied at the best schools and attained university education. To date, I read a lot because I got a solid foundation for what has become a remarkable career"

"I always fear to talk with people for fear of being judged. I used to be a vibrant woman and speak on every forum but after my treatment, I have since failed to restore my once strong voice. I thank God for my miraculous recovery."

"If you can’t hear me, feel free and ask me to repeat. I have a problem with my audibility. I have had this problem for about 10 years. I have been a cancer survivor for 12 years now and this affected my voice"

"While serving as a minister, I didn’t like security officers but was coerced to have one. Still, my officers were usually plain-clothed because I didn’t want to scare people."

"I have lived in this house for more than 40 years. I have no security officers and being a teacher, my home is open to any good-hearted person"

"I did not say Sudanese refugee would be deported"

"Our figures tend to be higher than those of the Ministry of Health, but as I mentioned earlier, it’s not just the soldiers. We serve soldiers, their families, and the surrounding communities. In fact, in many of our service areas, civilians make up the largest percentage of our clients. We often hear feedback from people who prefer the services provided by military facilities. In fact, we are performing exceptionally well in most of the programs we run."

"Of course, I would like the public to appreciate that the Ministry of Health came up with standard operating procedures that must be implemented and when you look at these young children, I don't think the managers of these children will be able to implement these SOPs. A child of that age can't put on a mask because they can easily suffocate."

"I have never done it before but it is generally good.it does not require equipment.it is about relaxation which is good for our student.There is nothing you need,Teachers of physical Education should learn Yoga and teach the student"

"says that she is going to expend a lot of energy in finding out why her party performed decimally in some places and together with other leaders come up with measures to reverse their misfortune."

"My appointment is confirmation that my party still has confidence in me."

"It’s true she has been appointed as the director for mobilization. She was confirmed yesterday by the Central Executive Committee of the party"

"Scientific knowledge and it’s application through technological innovations are the main drivers of global economic growth and transformation"

"The quality and numbers of science graduates had increased in the country and four new science and technology courses has been introduced"

"We need a minimum of UGX 110.4Bn"

"This will entail facilitation of Parish chiefs in routine parish data collection, development of Parish Plans, and monitoring all services delivered in the Parish. In the new Manifesto Period, the Ministry will strengthen the Parish level to cater for the added responsibilities for Parish Model Implementation,”"

"The issues raised we are going to write to all the concerned ministries. For instance on that 30million for sports and the gadgets for our learned with special needs, I am going to write to out First Lady,"

"When we are talking of homosexuality, we have questions about these Churches which pray at night. We wonder why they choose to pray at night and not during the day,"

"The UPDF was one of the key organizations that led the fight against HIV/AIDS, with guidance from the Commander-in-Chief. As one of the pioneering institutions, combining this effort with our regular military duties—especially in hard-to-reach areas—was no small accomplishment. It's an achievement we should not underestimate. Due to our presence in these remote regions, we have a responsibility to provide services not just to our soldiers, but also to the surrounding communities. As a result, the civilian populations in these areas have greatly benefited from our outreach efforts."

"I also want to sound a warning that if there is any school which is compromising about this issue, it is going to be shut down. Every parent must watch their child. Let us all speak with one voice to protect our children."

"The President has already spoken about this. If it’s about aid or whatever, we are simply not going to accept these acts in this country"

"In the structured environment of the military, we are better equipped to identify when a colleague is struggling. Peers play a key role in providing psychosocial support, as they are often the first to recognize when someone needs help. The peer support model is effective because of the strong bonds formed in the military. Soldiers quickly become like family, living and working together closely. If someone is affected, their peers are likely to notice, sometimes even through the chain of command."

"Everything has its pros and cons. From a practical standpoint, the military encourages open discussions about any issue. However, this approach can sometimes mean that deeper, personal matters are not fully addressed. People may downplay their true concerns and hesitate to share issues that deeply affect them. Despite this, we have well-established psychosocial services, including trained counselors and psychologists. The uptake of these services has been encouraging, with many soldiers actively seeking help. Today, almost every division has a psychologist. Initially, psychologists were brought in to address HIV-related issues, but their roles have since expanded to cover a broad range of psychosocial concerns, offering holistic and multidisciplinary support."

"Our partners provide two key contributions. First, they bring in technical expertise that is not readily available within the military, allowing us to access specialist healthcare workers. Second, they ensure that resources are used efficiently, ensuring that funds allocated to programs are spent effectively and achieve their intended outcomes. They report both to the funders and to the military for program implementation. Partners help by hiring skilled professionals on a short-term basis, such as physicians, to carry out specific tasks. Additionally, they ensure that all activities align with the guidelines set by their funders while also delivering services to the military."

"Around 2012 to 2013, we began discussing with our partners the idea of creating a branded condom specifically for the military. It was essentially a form of social marketing. Although condoms were available, soldiers weren’t using them, despite knowing how to do so, and the same applied to the wider community. We wanted to understand why they weren’t using existing condoms, and we discovered that when people get accustomed to something, they often don’t value it. So, we thought, “Let’s create a condom that would appeal to them and encourage use.” We continued discussions with our partners, pushing for this idea. When PACE was securing their contract, we made it clear that we wanted this initiative included. The demand for this new product came directly from the military, an innovation led by us, but of course, we needed to bring in our partners as experts. The idea was to create a unique condom and brand it specifically for our soldiers. PACE helped bring this vision to life, and thus, the Ulinzi condom was born. The response was overwhelming, especially due to its camouflage design. People started to appreciate not only the design but also the quality. Soldiers and civilians alike began requesting them. Interestingly, when we distributed the Ulinzi condoms alongside other brands, like the pink ones, people would often refuse the pink ones in favor of Ulinzi. However, with the conclusion of the PACE contract, funding for these condoms also ended, and now they are out of stock. Despite this, whenever we visit communities, people still ask for Ulinzi condoms, saying, "We want Ulinzi." Civil-military relations are about creating synergy between the military and the civilian population. It’s about identifying areas where both sides can collaborate and work together, with either the civilian community contributing to the military, or the military supporting the civilians. The underlying principle is that we cannot exist in isolation. While the military runs its own health programs, there are specific services provided by the Ministry of Health that the military may not have the capacity to offer. One example of this collaboration is the "Tarehe Sita" initiative, where two weeks of the year are dedicated to providing community services. During this time, the military engages in activities such as offering healthcare, rehabilitating water sources, improving livelihoods, and working alongside the community. We also have our largest SACCO, Wazalendo, which focuses on training people in economic empowerment. While the military may have limited resources, we do our best to offer what we can in terms of health services. Tarehe Sita, which commemorates the birth of the UPDF, is a reminder that the army cannot function in isolation. The support of civilians was crucial in helping the military achieve its objectives, so it’s important that we give back and show appreciation for our shared existence. The Directorate of Health, along with our partners, plays a key role in this. As part of our community service efforts, we provide medical services, while the engineering brigades focus on infrastructure, sanitation, and town cleanups. The Directorate of HIV, under the medical services division, contributes by addressing health needs related to HIV, and our partners help implement these initiatives, ensuring that the UPDF fulfills its responsibility to give back to the community."

"The primary challenge remains reaching soldiers stationed in very remote areas, especially since, during wartime, they are not allowed to move freely or travel alone. It’s not feasible to send just one soldier for testing; instead, we must move them in groups. To address this, we established teams equipped with security escorts to carry testing kits and reach soldiers in their deployed locations. Whether in a room, an open space, a tent, or even under a tree, these teams would set up a secure and professional environment to conduct testing. They ensured that the space was spacious and maintained confidentiality, even in such remote settings. Initially, we conducted one-on-one counseling and testing, but over time, as stigma decreased, we shifted to group counseling and testing, making the process more efficient and inclusive."

"Yes, it is. One of our key achievements is the introduction of the mobile approach for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC). I believe the UPDF was the first to implement this model, and now it has been adopted widely. It’s not just about pioneering these initiatives, but also about responding to the unique needs of the situation. We realized that establishing a traditional health facility to serve our troops would be impractical—when would we ever complete a whole battalion? And with soldiers often deployed to remote locations, getting them to a fixed facility would be challenging. This is why our funding model is so distinctive. Current funding focuses on high-incidence areas, but often, these areas don’t have our troops. Instead, our soldiers may be stationed in regions where the HIV prevalence is lower, but they still require services. In some of the most remote locations, the prevalence might not be high, but access to healthcare is extremely difficult. It's not just about providing services to soldiers, but also to the surrounding communities who live in these hard-to-reach areas. We must ensure that people in these regions have access to care. It’s been valuable that PEPFAR has recognized the unique challenges of military health needs and routed funding through URC-DHAPP, an organization that understands military logistics and can effectively negotiate at that level. When mapping HIV distribution across Uganda, the scientific approach is logical, but it doesn’t account for the large group of people—soldiers and civilians alike—who still need care, whether it’s treatment or prevention services. Without a tailored approach, these individuals might be overlooked."

"The DSDM model involves reaching out to communities directly, where we maintain contact with our clients. We find it more convenient to deliver medication to our clients rather than asking them to travel to health facilities, as many lack transportation or are too ill to make the journey. We identify key points where a large number of clients gather, and that’s where we deliver the medications. This model proved particularly effective during the COVID-19 outbreak. While it existed before COVID, the restrictions during the pandemic helped us organize and streamline the process. It was originally implemented by health workers in remote areas where our soldiers are stationed, and we would gather medical records for certain groups, refill prescriptions, and deliver the medication to those locations. The pandemic only amplified the scope of this initiative, and it continues to function effectively today. We’ve since expanded the model. Now, a multidisciplinary team goes to specific locations to offer a variety of services, rather than just delivering medications. In addition to dispensing drugs, the team conducts disease monitoring, TB contact tracing, and even viral load testing. Essentially, we’re bringing the entire healthcare facility to the community. People now know that on specific days, they can access healthcare services right in their own neighborhood, instead of having to travel long distances to find a clinic. As long as a battalion is stationed in a particular area, we will continue to offer services to both the soldiers and the surrounding communities."

"We shall mobilize the electorate to recall any councilor who brings confusion in the district of consel"

"Today, the climate has changed a lot, and we can no longer depend on agriculture for a better future. It’s interesting to see rest of the world investing in other sectors like services and industrialization while Uganda remains glued on agriculture for economic transformation"

"The incumbent district woman MP, placed announcements on the radio stations calling for voters to turn up for the postponed elections in large numbers. She promised them meals and a transport refund for their effort."

"From the information I’m gathering from so many corners, many people don’t want the constitution to be amended to lift the age limit but at the same time I think Mr Museveni,who is the cheif beneficiary of this project wants the age limit lifted"

"I think the situation is fluid and would only get worse if not arrested in time"

"When the teachers are teaching these children, they are closely interacting with them. How will you stop these children from interacting? We are talking about social distancing, so at that age they can't. We must appreciate the fact that pre-primary is mostly about playing. We teach these children through playing. This can be done at home."

"I’ve been involved in negotiations that have had a significant impact on my work, as negotiating is often an inevitable part of what I do."

"Thank you! RDCs have been exposed to several capacity building activities. They have been grounded in the public service standing orders and were provided additional guidelines and operational orders."

"The Presidency instituted an online monitoring system where we monitor their work on a regular basis. The RDCs regularly report on their field activities and they consult with Headquarters before implementing any decisions. The country is divided into six regions and each is supervised by a Regional Commissioner based at the RDC Secretariat who is in constant touch with the RDCs, especially to monitor their performance."

"The Presidency has increased the allowances of the RDCs to facilitate their work of monitoring security and service delivery."

"As it is now, those who were in the habit of overstepping their function because they believed they were ‘untouchable’ have adjusted after facing sanctions. RDCs are constantly reminded that they are civil servants. They are not above the law and will face the law just like any other public official. This has shaped their attitude to work."

"RDCs are transferred as and when there is a reason for it. Indeed, they are transferable just like any other civil servant. They perform their duties bearing in mind this reality. RDCs used to work in a station for a very lengthy period and they would assume certain habits as a result of this."

"I am really happy to say that we have made some progress on gender parity, starting with education. With the introduction of UPE [Universal Primary Education], we were able to achieve 50/50 percent enrollment of both boys and girls. But where we’ve got the challenge in UPE is the high school drop-out [rates] of girls due to poverty at home and due to some social problems. And the same extends to education in upper primary where the girls drop out for early marriages and to assist their mothers and aunties with household work and other things."

"At the university and the higher levels, I think we are doing much better because the enrolment of girls is 60 percent compared to boys at 40 percent. The Law School [at Makerere University] is a case in point. This has been achieved because of the affirmative action the Government of Uganda has put in place to uplift the girl child."

"Our women here [in Uganda] are quite enterprising but they lack the appropriate capital, they lack access to markets, and they lack access to collateral. This is because in Africa all property belongs to men so it’s very difficult for male spouses to allow them to use family collateral to borrow money [that can] help them to expand their businesses. So, here we need funding, which does not require the traditional collateral, for women to be able to grow their businesses."