Powerless? Gender Regimes and Women's Place in Uganda's Political Parties

Multiparty politics in Uganda in some ways opened the political space for women and also reinforced the patriarchal nature of parliamentary and electoral politics. Women are increasingly used as appendages and tools to further the political dominance of the ruling government. So, while they seem to be visible, their voices and substantive representation is controlled by the parties' executive wings. This paper identifies and describes the gender regimes of Ugandan political parties, showing how women are systematically alienated by party politics. The analysis of party constitutions and structures revealed antipathy towards gender equality demonstrated in male dominance of top positions and positions of valuable portfolios, deputization of women and the use of women's leagues to promote party agendas. Although women's participation is supported legislatively, there is a need for women's leagues to operate autonomously from the party.

Automated summary

While multiparty politics in Uganda have increased the political space for women, it has also reinforced the patriarchal nature of parliamentary and electoral politics, leading to women being systematically alienated by party politics. The analysis of party constitutions and structures reveals male dominance in top positions and valuable portfolios, delegation of women to subordinate roles, and the use of women's leagues to advance party agendas. Therefore, there is a need for women's leagues to operate autonomously from the party.