An Analysis of Women's Right to Equity in Uganda

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... ii

LIST OF ABREVIATIONS .......................................................................................................... iii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................ v

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................... vi

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... I

1.2 Background of the study ........................................................................................................... 2

1.3 Statement of the problem .......................................................................................................... 3

1.4 General Objective ..................................................................................................................... 3

1.5 Research Objectives .................................................................................................................. 3

1.6 Research Questions ................................................................................................................... 4

1.7 Scope of the study ..................................................................................................................... 4

1.8 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 4

1.9 Justification of the study ........................................................................................................... 5

1.10 Significance of the study ......................................................................................................... 5

1.11 Literature Review .................................................................................................................... 5

1.12 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ I 0

CHAPTER TW 0 ........................................................................................................................ 11

THE LEGAL FRAMEWORKS AND INSTITUTIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR WOMEN'S

RIGHTS IN UGANDA ............................................................................................................... 11

2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. II

2.2 International laws .................................................................................................................... II

2.2.1 The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979

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2.2.2 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1976 ................................................ 13

2.2.3 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 ............................................................. 13

2.2.4 Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, 2000 .................................................................. 14

2.3 Regional laws .......................................................................................................................... 14

2.3.1 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in

Africa ............................................................................................................................................ 14

2.4 Domestic laws ......................................................................................................................... 15

2.4.1 The Constitution of the Republic ofUganda, 1995 ............................................................. 15

2.4.2 The Divorce Act Cap 249 .................................................................................................... 18

2.4.3 The Employment Act, 2006 ................................................................................................. 19

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2.4.4 Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act 5, 2010 ........................................................ 20

2.4.5 The Uganda Gender Policy, 2007 ........................................................................................ 21

2.4.6 Domestic Violence Act, 2009 .............................................................................................. 21

2.5 Institutions on Women's Rights .............................................................................................. 22

2.5.3 Justice Centre Uganda (JCU) ............................................................................................... 23

2.5.4 The role of the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) ........................................................ 23

2.5.5 Action for Development (ACFODE) ................................................................................... 24

2.5.6 Association of Uganda Women Medical Doctors (AUWMD) ............................................ 24

2.5.7 Send a Cow Uganda ............................................................................................................. 25

2.5.8 Isis Women's International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE) ................................. 25

2.5.9 Uganda Women's Trust (UWT) .......................................................................................... 26

2.5.10 The Conservative Alliance Against Gender Justice and Equality in Uganda .................... 26

2.5.11 Westminster Foundation for Democracy Uganda .............................................................. 28

2.5.12 Women Peace Initiative (WOPI) ....................................................................................... 28

2.5 .13 The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) ............................ 28

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................... 30

ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN UGANDA ...................................................... 30

3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3 0

3.2 Impact made by women struggle for their rights to equity ..................................................... 3 0

3.2.1 Women's rights impacts ...................................................................................................... 30

3.2.2 Uganda Gender Policy ......................................................................................................... 32

3.2.3 Personal Autonomy and the State ........................................................................................ 33

3.2.4 Political Autonomy .............................................................................................................. 34

CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................... 36

CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN IN PURSUIT OF THEIR RIGHTS IN UGANDA36

4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 36

4.2 Findings on the women rights on equity in Uganda ............................................................... 36

4.2.1 Women, gender or citizens .................................................................................................. 36

4.2.2 Engendering the education curriculum ................................................................................ 36

4.2.3 National laws for Women's rights ....................................................................................... 36

4.2.4 National policies for Women's rights .................................................................................. 37

4.2.5 International regulations for Women's rights ...................................................................... 38

4.2.6 The Republic of Uganda Constitution as amended 1995 ..................................................... 39

4.2.7 Gender-sensitive policies and Jaws enacted ......................................................................... 39

4.2.8 Institutional frameworks developed ..................................................................................... 40

4.3 Challenges to effective Women's rights to equity Jaws and policy implementation .............. 40

4.3.1 A mismatch between policy and practice ............................................................................ 40

4.3.2 Political interference and inadequate political will... ........................................................... 41

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4.3.3 Weak monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanisms ....................................................... 41

4.3.4 Patriarchy ............................................................................................................................. 41

4.3.5 Limited knowledge and understanding of the Jaws/policies ................................................ 42

4.3.6 Weak enforcement structures (staffing) ............................................................................... 42

4.3.7 Weak enforcement structures (funding) ............................................................................... 43

4.3 .8 Limited political will. ........................................................................................................... 43

CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................ 44

FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ................................................... 44

5.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 44

5.1 Findings of the study ............................................................................................................... 44

5.2 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 45

5.3 Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 46

BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................... 48