Women Authors

"There is an excessive number of Distinction Ones, and I want to point out that it's not typical in statistics for every student in a school to receive Ones or Fours. If you find a school where all the students are getting Standard One, that’s an unusual situation. It suggests that someone is manipulating the results."

"I’m telling you this because I’ve been there, and perhaps I left because I’m one of the few smart ones. I was lacking the right company."

"Why should I stay with a man who beats me? I told him, 'How can you beat a vice president?'"

"I don't care whether I said people's socks stink. They said this woman talks about nothing. It is something. Cleanliness is next to godliness. The devil is in the detail. Who doesn't know that men don't like to bath? It's a fact,""

"It is widely acknowledged that gender-based violence rates are high in Uganda. What concerns us even more is that the recognition of this issue as a problem is not very widespread."

"The young and vibrant NRM government boasted that any girl or woman in Uganda could become anything they wanted in the world."

"When I was Vice President, I told the president that this was impossible. So, we asked some headteachers and teachers from these 'Four schools' to take the same exams, and they failed. How could they have been teaching students who scored Four if they themselves couldn't pass?"

"As a matter of policy, we sometimes get caught up in one thing or another and allow the government to take the lead, thinking that the smartest people are in government. The truth is, most of the smartest people don’t go into government."

"In the end, I felt sorry for those women," "Some even came to me for help. I didn’t feel humiliated because by then, I had stopped feeling anything for my husband."

"My condolences to all those who lost their lives in Kajo Keji, including both the cattle herders and the residents of the area."

"I suppose it was that day that convinced me I should enter politics and speak out against the violence that was so prevalent in our society."

"I’ve been accused of having an affair with the president, among other things. They claim I only have my job because I’m a woman. Men try to bully me the same way they bully their wives, but I won’t tolerate it. It's clear they can't imagine women serving any purpose beyond sex, but I make sure to remind them that we have brains too."

"This process will take time, and patience and tolerance are essential given the difficult circumstances we started from. The forward path has also begun to take shape. For instance, the Ministry of Finance has sustained partnerships with the international donor community for budget support and economic assessment. Currently, we are seeing some economic growth tied to a reform agenda. Critics often claim that the government blames our 'inherited bankrupt economy' and Jammeh for underperformance. However, Jammeh has only been out of office for nearly two years, and it’s important to understand the context. When we took office, we faced a severe brain drain, as many of our skilled professionals had left due to political persecution or economic hardship. This created a capacity deficit, which is a major factor in governance, especially democratic governance, where engaging all stakeholders is critical yet challenging. I don’t shy away from acknowledging the government’s difficulties and challenges—I am part of them and remain within the coalition government. However, it's crucial to consider these underlying issues when assessing the successes and challenges of our administration.""

""Let’s move away from the pollution that’s making us sick and seek fresh air, so we can become the eyes and ears of the government in the villages. I’m grateful to see that, at this stage of my life, after retiring, the government is supporting my travel to continue my work. I thank the president, who appointed me as his Vice three times, allowing me the opportunity to serve this country." Such gestures encourage other leaders to serve the government with dedication and integrity."

""The position is constitutional and not something that can be appointed or dismissed on a whim. I am still the Vice President, and I will be for a long time. I am still with you, and you better take note of that."

"Enough is enough"

"I am deeply honored and excited to assume this new and challenging role at such a critical time in the fight against AIDS."

"I see myself as a role model for other Ugandan women."

""If you go to Juba now, the economic indicators are showing progress. The IMF has supported us, and we've managed to stabilize the exchange rate," she said, adding that through IMF loans, her government has been able to control South Sudan's rising inflation and provide back pay to civil servants."

"What has happened over the years can't be undone overnight. It’s a process, and we’re asking our people to be patient with us."

"Yes, we’ve faced some challenges, and given the difficulties we’re experiencing, our people have high expectations from the government."

"People often believed my life was perfect—I had a husband, a successful career, financial stability, and my children were excelling in school and university. But behind that image, I was deeply unhappy in my marriage due to the abuse. I reached a point where I could no longer live the life others expected of me. I chose to break my silence and speak out about the reality of what I was going through."

"The South Sudan National Revenue Authority has digitized its revenue collection system and removed illegal "taxation" roadblocks."

"The oil revenue sharing is not proceeding as anticipated. However, "The CPA is my new husband.""

"The Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan have been established, along with two separate assemblies: the Assembly of the North and the Assembly of Southern Sudan."

"At the funeral, I told the people, "If you kill a lion, you will see what the lioness can do." I am not afraid of anything, not even death, because I have nothing left but my people. I am committed to protecting the CPA and ensuring that the people of Southern Sudan experience the freedom and dignity they have long yearned for."

"We'll graduate them with sticks and send them straight to the community; they won't be going to the barracks. What truly controls a soldier is their weapon."

"My hope is that others will find the courage to stand up against the violence that exists in so many of our homes, yet remains so rarely acknowledged."

"We are committed to ensuring that women's representation is achieved. Yes, there are challenges— for instance, in the executive, the representation stands at 26%, when it should be 35%. However, the situation in parliament is much better than in the executive."

"My dear compatriots, life in Juba and Southern Sudan is beginning to take shape. Juba is no longer the town you once knew. It was once a lifeless place, filled with trauma and loss, where people were killed and it felt like a graveyard. But now, Juba is slowly transforming and taking shape."

"I'm not here to deny what's been happening in the country, nor to defend what's going on."

"Yes, I felt I needed time to reflect on it. Having worked with the UN, I reached a level beyond that of an ambassador. We have to be realistic—I don’t have a sense of entitlement. I was beyond the rank of ambassador, and returning to the UN mission in that capacity would have felt like a demotion for me."

"Not really, I don’t see things that way. My life has always been one of faith. I believe that what God has destined for me is what I am living now, and I accept it until I return to Him. Every stage of my life has been defined by Him. I was happy to serve and support President Barrow fully—100 percent. I am confident that if you spoke to him, he would confirm that I always gave him the support he needed. I have been completely loyal to him and to my country. What matters to me is that I swore on the Holy Qur’an to be loyal to my country, support my president, and serve the people of The Gambia. That is exactly what I did. The president holds me in high regard, and he has said so both in my presence and at various forums. I worked closely with him, and he still has confidence in me, which is what truly matters. If I had left due to violating the constitution, I would have felt embarrassed, but I never felt betrayed. I leave everything in God’s hands. He created me and has given me what is meant for me. Being a believer, I view this as a test from God, a way for me to grow closer to Him. I have never been closer to God than I am now, and I will never hold any grudge against President Barrow. My participation in many programs, such as the TRRC, is evidence of that."

"This message is for our President Salva Kiir: We must support our veterans while they are still alive, so they can care for their families."

"My heart is heavy, and I truly believe that if it weren't for this country, Dr. John would not have died. He gave his life for you. But seeing how his people are suffering and dying now, it feels as though his sacrifice was in vain. It's time to change our hearts."

"He was firm in his belief and conviction that I was the right candidate to support him at that time."

"No, I never had the intention to be foreign minister. His Excellency never offered me the position, and I never asked for it. I had no ambition for any particular role. My focus was on ensuring that he had a strong cabinet, and I supported him in that process. He consulted all the political leaders and offered positions to them. For me, political leaders are more important than any position. It’s never been about the role itself. If it were about positions, I would have gone back to the UN or pursued another opportunity, as I have the qualifications. While I’m not perfect, I would have sought higher roles if it were about personal gain. Now, if positions didn’t matter, why did I hold onto the vice president position for so long when I knew my age was a factor? Why didn’t I step aside? I could have said, 'I’ve helped remove Jammeh, that’s enough,' but I chose to stay, even though The Gambia was without a full-time vice president. It's good you asked. I’ve often consulted with the president about stepping down, suggesting that my ambition was to support him in any role other than vice president. I even suggested some names for the vice president role, and he is a living witness to this. But people don’t fully understand me. The president told me that, as far as he and the country are concerned, I deserved to be vice president—not for personal reasons, but because of my background and experience. He said this when he swore me in. He didn’t appoint me because I was the chair of the coalition. He chose me because of the trust, my expertise, and my contributions to the coalition."

"I ask you to pray for the political will so that we, as leaders, can accept one another. If we do, we won't work as separate parties but as one government, serving one people."

"Constitutionally, you can oversee a position, and that’s why it’s important for people to understand their constitution, as it is the foundation that governs the country. You can assume oversight in cases such as when someone passes away in office, and an eligible person can step in. But when it comes to constitutional amendments, let’s be clear: am I the one benefiting from the changes? If the constitution hadn’t been amended, would Honourable Ousainu Darboe be vice president? Would we have had competent lawyers like Sourahata Janneh and others on the commission? We need to look beyond individual interests and focus on what’s best for the country."

"Even male ministers and MPs have started approaching me to discuss the challenges they face in their homes."

"Let us put an end to divisions and the bitterness in our hearts. We are one people, created by God in His own image."

"I would rate him fairly well, giving President Barrow a 60%, considering the challenges he inherited and the current situation. We have the resources, but the capacity is lacking. The issue of peace and stability was a major concern from the start. There were numerous crises that he had to manage, which led to sleepless nights for him and many of us. We had to ensure social cohesion, dealing with incidents like the Faraba case, the Busumbula youths, and the doctors’ strike—things were sporadic, changing from one issue to the next. Barrow is a very peaceful man, regardless of where I stand. As a believer, I speak the truth because that’s what matters in the end, and that’s what I’ll be accountable for. We have a leader who needs our support. Coming from the private sector, he had no previous experience in public service. That in itself deserves credit, as he assembled a cabinet of people from various disciplines. Within one year, his government managed to stabilize the economy, which was in disarray, and stabilize the country amidst various factions, including an active APRC. When we took over, the private sector was in a dire state, burdened by high taxes and a lack of incentives to promote growth and create jobs. Civil society and the media were disillusioned, so we had to reignite the sense of citizenship and work towards rebuilding the country."

"At least this percentage in the presidency is acceptable because it's a position we weren't reaching before. And as you know, women are reasonable people. Despite the traditions and cultural norms that once oppressed women in the country, we are now in a much better place."

"This constitution, after all, was designed by former President Jammeh primarily for his own benefit. For 65 years, we’ve been signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various other human rights agreements. Article 16 of the Universal Declaration says there should never be discrimination based on age, gender, race, or religion. So, imposing an age limit is inherently discriminatory, and globally, no country has such a limit in their constitution. What truly matters is the competence and loyalty of an individual, and this is the way forward. Similar situations occurred in Southern Africa, such as in Zambia in 2008 when Rupiah Banda became president. A few years into his presidency, a law was passed banning people over 70 from running for office, specifically targeting the main opposition leader, Michael Sata, who was 71, just three years younger than President Banda. It wasn’t just The Gambia that faced such challenges. While you say the law was Jammeh’s, I agree that there are both good and bad laws in his system. Some of the laws are, in fact, beneficial, regardless of where I stand. I want to be straightforward and truthful. My priority is the Gambia’s agenda, not personal interests. On the global stage, The Gambia must align with the United Nations and the world at large. Our participation in the UN General Assembly is part of that, and we learn from global practices. However, we must ensure that we follow democratic principles. The reason for our transition is to establish democratic governance where everyone feels included and has a voice, and where laws protect the human rights of both individuals and communities."

"Meeting the 35% women's representation target remains a challenge. I acknowledge these issues, but the most important thing for us right now is ensuring the safety of our children."

"I’m pleased, though somewhat surprised, by how many people are thinking and talking about these issues."

"My son, even if you bring a Holy Quran here, I will tell you it’s not true. If you ask the president, he too will tell you it’s not true. People have spread lies about me, but I forgive them. I know who fabricated those lies, but as a Muslim, I have forgiven them. I am pleased that His Excellency President Barrow has learned the truth. He stood by it and invited me on the 16th of August. We discussed the letter, and it was never something I wrote."

"I decided to speak out about my own experience of abuse for the sake of children. "I didn’t want my daughters to grow up witnessing what men are capable of, and I didn’t want my sons to believe that it’s acceptable for men to treat women that way.""

"Removed and replaced with a note that I had no knowledge of. I looked into what went wrong, uncovered the truth, and identified those involved, and His Excellency President Barrow was aware of this."

"As a government, we must ensure the implementation of this agreement—there is nothing more important, as I said before. The world is tired of us, and even our own people are losing patience. But they must remain patient and give us another opportunity to fulfill this agreement. There is no shortcut to freedom. If they want freedom and security in their own country, we must continue on this challenging journey."