CSOs Raise Alarm Over Slow Progress in Women's Empowerment In Acholi

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating in the Acholi Sub-region have expressed concern about the slow advancement of women's empowerment initiatives. Their concern comes against the backdrop of numerous efforts being made by both the government and civil society actors to promote women's empowerment.

Grace Jolly Laker Adruville Okot, the Chief Executive Officer of Women Empowerment Network and Design noted that gender equity in the Acholi sub region is still a major concern alleging that the gap stands at 30 percent. Laker noted that there is a need to bridge the gap in gender equality in the region to empower women in the society through education.

“Despite having the ability to make some decisions at home, Economic empowerment remains a challenge, and many NGOs and government agencies have programs that provide only handouts to them, which is not sustainable,” said Laker. She said that while the government instituted affirmative action, the participation of women in politics compared to men remains significantly lower.

“It is even worse with those vying for political positions and even ones in Political office who are using handouts as means to manipulate this woman to vote them to various political offices they are eying for,” she said. Laker made the remarks on Friday during a meeting by Care International Uganda together with other CSOs championing gender equality in the Acholi Sub region.

Naomi Acara, the Heads of sub-office Gulu at Care International Uganda said cultural norms has hindered the progress of women emancipation in the sub-region over the years despite bringing cultural leaders and institutions into the fight. She noted that cultural practices such as exorbitant bride prices levied by parents for the daughter’s hand in marriage have affected the relationships of women, leaving them vulnerable.

“Many of our young and energetic women are now left to fend for their children alone as men have fled in fear for the escalating amount of money demanded by the girls' parents for marriage, hence escalating the numbers of single mothers in the region, “said Naomi.

According to Naomi, some cultures are continuously negotiating for the payment of pride price for teenagers instead of allowing the law.” And this is a criminal offense in Uganda,” says Acara. Ambrose Onoria, the Resident City Commissioner Gulu, however, noted that for this part of the sub-region to succeed in achieving gender equality, men, who are the majority perpetrators of gender inequality, must be sensitized more.

Onoria said while women in the urban centers are picking up interests in various leadership positions like politics, in churches, and private sectors, their counterparts in the rural areas aren’t showing any interests. Ugandan government has made strides over the years to bridge the gender inequality gap through women empowerment initiatives. 

These included the establishment of affirmative action in 1986 and the rolling out of different affirmative action measures such as the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP), Youth Livelihood program, Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment and the latest GROW project.