Challenges Faced by Women in Domestic Solid Waste Management in Lubowa-Seguku Parish.

ABSTRACT In order to understand women’s struggle for political independence and other freedoms in Uganda in particular, and Africa at large, it is important to first identify factors which hinder them (women) from freely taking part in the government of their choice right from grassroot levels. This study employed a documentary and descriptive model to investigate the reasons for the low participation of women in politics in Uganda particularly and the globe in general. The results indicate that male dominance (patriarchy tendencies), cultural attitudes of society towards women and low educational levels for women increases their inability to participate in political and decision-making affairs of the country. It is seen that women need to be given the freedom and encouragement by their male counterpart such that they can be able to participate freely in decision-making issues of their country and other serious issues affecting them. The study recommends that male politicians should change their ways of perceiving women in negative ways, so that women come out of the marginalization cycles to engage in active politics of their countries. Discriminatory tendencies towards women as regards their education by parents and inferiority feelings among women themselves should be priority issues that need to be critically addressed. The government should establish institutions that can protect the interests of women and their concerns besides the organizations formed by women themselves. Above all women should be allowed the freedom to form and join political parties because this will provide a level ground for them to actively get involved in politics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION .ii

DEDICATION iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF TABLES xii

ACRONYMS X~ll

ABSTRACT X~V

CHAPTER ONE

WOMEN AND POLITICS N THE UGANDAN PERSPECTIVE 1

1.1 Background 1

1.2 Uganda’s Political History in Pre and Post colonial times 2

1.3 Statement of the Problem 10

1.4.0 Objectives of the Study 11

1.4.1 General Objective 11

1.4.2 Specific Objectives 11

1.5 Hypothesis 12

1.6 Method of the study 13

1.7 Scope of the study 14

1.8 Significance of the study 14

1.9 Theoretical Framework 15

1.10 limitations to the study 17

1.11 Organization of the Dissertation 18

CHAPTER TWO 20

vi

z

~ LlL3r~A~

WOMEN AND POLITICS IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT...N~~,P~T~ ::::: ::~. 20

2.1 Introduction ~ 20

2.2 Women and Politics in Africa 20

2.3 Women’s organizations as a force behind their political participation 23

2.4 Women and constitution-making process in Africa 25

2.5 Conclusion 28

3,0 CHAPTER THREE 30

WOMEN POLITICIANS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA 30

3.2 Conflicts in Africa and their nature 32

3.3 African women as combatants 36

3.4 The impact of conflicts on Women 37

Breakdown ofSocial Setting and families 41

3.5 African Women Politicians as Peacemakers 42

3.6 Conclusion 44

CHAPTER FOUR 46

WOMEN [N DECISION-MAKING AND TOP POLITICAL POSITIONS IN UGANDA

46

4.1 Introduction 46

4.2.0 Women as Decision-Makers in Uganda 47

4.2.1 Economic Decision-making 53

4.2.2 Women and Employment decision-making 55

4.2.3 Women and land ownership 55

4.2.4 Women and Political decision-making in Uganda 58

4.2.5 Women and Political Freedom in Uganda 61

vii

4.3 Obstacles to women’s political decision-making in Uganda 62

Illiteracy and Ignorance about women ‘s rights 63

4.4 The NRM Government and Women’s Political participation in Uganda 65

4.5 Challenges to Women’s Political Participation in Uganda and Africa in general 76

4.5.1 Cultural Barriers 77

4.5.2 Top Positions 78

4.5.3 Political gap 79

4.5.4 Denial of the right to vote 80

4.5.5 Financial constraints 81

4.5.6 Tokenism and Dependence Syndrome 82

4.5.7 Jealousness among men 82

4.5.8 Fear among women and the general population 83

4.5.9 Invisibility of women 83

4.5.10 Inaccessibility to relevant Information 84

4.5.11 Challenge of Domestic workload and political participation 84

4.5.12 General disrespect of female decision-makers 85

4.5.13 Conclusion 85

CHAPTER FIVE 87

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION 87

5.1 SUMMARY 87

5.2 CONCLUSIONS 88

5.3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 90

REFERENCES 94