Activists want Visibility of Women Politicians strengthened

Activists want Visibility of Women Politicians in Uganda’s Media Strengthened

BY AMBROSE GAHENE

Network of Women in Politics (NOWIP) in partnership with Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) have called upon Government, Media owners and other stakeholders to strengthen presence of women participation in media and political space. They voiced these concerns during an interactive media dialogue with journalists and women politicians at Kampala’s Hotel African on Wednesday.

Lilian Babirye, executive director NOWIP, said dialogue between women in politics and those in media is very important to realize equal representation of men and women in the political and media space. She said the role of NOWIP is to encourage Ugandan women participation in politics.

“Many times women want men to dream for them on what to do, but we have to dream for ourselves”, she said amidst applause from women activists present.

Dr Emilly Maracho, UMWA Vice Chairperson, said Women see media as a double edged sword, because some media houses portray parliamentary women as indecent by reporting on their dressing as “sexy”, while other media houses give limited voices to women participation on Radio or Television Talk shows. 

“These types of stereotypes media reporting should be discouraged”, she said.

Busiro East Member of Parliament Aspirant, Hamida Nalongo, said women participation in politics can create socio- economic transformation in the shortest time possible. 

“We are given limited space in media and politics yet we are your mothers”, she said. She called on media owners to desist from concentrating on targeting prominent women politicians for talk shows, but encourage women from all walks of life to have their voices heard.

“In other instances, one woman Journalist is made to host many Radio or Television Talk Shows, as if there are no other women Journalists in that media organization”, she added.