Darious Magara
17 November 2008
Kampala — A Local NGO, Action for Development (Acfode), has called upon political parties to recruit more women into their party structures.
Addressing a press conference at Acfode House in Bukoto, the organisation's executive director Regina Bafaki, said since the transition to multiparty politics, women have not been given the opportunity to participate in politics.
She said statistics indicate that the main avenue of women legislators still remains the affirmative action and out of the current 102 women legislators, 79 are women district representatives.
Bafaki also decried increased violence against women, especially those in the opposition parties saying the action has scared some women from joining active politics.
"Some women legislators were recently attacked and almost stripped naked by the Police which is supposed to protect them. It is unfortunate and such actions should stop."
She said as they celebrate 23 years of existence this week, Acfode has chosen the theme, 'Women and Multiparty Politics; Widening Women's Space,' to help them to reflect on the current women's engagement in political parties.
Bafaki said Acfode will continue to engage the Parliament, the Electoral Commission and political parties to lobby for more space for women to participate in leadership.
She said women, because of their nature, cherish, respect and cannot engage in politics freely which is sometimes characterised by harassment and violence.
"Women do not like pull and push. It is very inhibiting and challenging as they like peace and as a result many have been forced to shy away from participating actively in politics," she said.
The executive director said women have a great role to play in the democratisation process and are normally well organised in development groups.
Acfode's public relations officer, Margaret Wokuri, said commercialisation of elections makes it difficult for many women to participate.
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