East African Gazette
Kampala
The Women politicians have raised a concern over the quality of political leaders emerging from election waves.
According to the English dictionary an election wave is defined as an election in which a group of people makes significant gains in Congress (a national legislative body,) at the state level, or in a parliament.
In every general election, Uganda has witnessed election waves especially supporting the opposition in power however they have been short lived.
Women under their Under Umbrella Inter–party Women Platform (IWOP) aimed at promoting good leadership, said when politicians emerge from political waves, they are worried a majority of political waves do not have firm definite roots where they are groomed and trained wondering what sort of leaders they produce.
“There is a significant worry that a wave election cannot deliver the much-needed change since leaders who are voted into power end up not being accountable to the electorate. “Said Christine Mugerwa Kasule, the Secretary General of Democratic Party (DP), a member of the platform.
“Also, such election waves are a reflection of frustration by those yearning for change, even when that change cannot bring eloquent leaders on board,” Mugerwa pointed out.
Mugerwa explained” Election waves take the voters unaware of any future impact of the voting patterns, some of the voters just vote for the sake of the symbols on the ballot papers to identify candidates and parties, however later on, the voters regret the people voted in power for failure to implement their campaign promises,”
Mugerwa explained “in most cases political waves do not belong to registered political parties.
As of September 2020, the Uganda Electoral Commission EC lists 26 registered political parties on its website.
Women leagues from nine registered political parties in the country under (IWOP) includes ruling National Resistance Movement NRM) party, Democratic Party (DP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda Federal Alliance, Ecological Party of Uganda, JEEMA, People’s Progressive Party and the Alliance for National Transformation. (ANT), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC),
At the function, Ambassador Edith Sempala of the Alliance for National Transformation. ANT handed over the instruments of power to Aisha Waligo of DP, after holding the office for a period of six month, the event took place at ANT party headquarters Bukoto, a city suburb recently.
political parties, thus they do not have party whips as compared to a registered political party that have Member of Parliament appointed by government or the Opposition side or political party from among its members in Parliament to ensure discipline,”
Mugerwa warned Ugandans to be careful in the 2026 general elections in preparation for electing political leaders including the presidency and members of Parliament emerging out of election waves, “some of these do not have a constitution a set of fundamental rules that determine how a country or state is run.
The incoming chairperson of the (IWOP) Waligo proposed to entice the National Unity Party (NUP) leadership to join IWOP, to contribute its leadership roles to the women.
“We also intend to use the platform to carry out collective advocacy on issues affecting women and to better leadership in the country, we need to woo NUP to join IWOP,” Waligo said.
“In the Memorandum of understanding, the women politicians undertook to ensure that issues that affect women who are participating in governance or political areas are addressed with a view of increasing the number of women holding elective office,” said Waligo.
“Alice Also the, Acting National coordinator of ANT Party called for a peaceful power transition to avoid bloodshed through transition of government from any leadership of Uganda to a new leadership through the ballots.
“A peaceful power transition means no destruction of the country’s resources and safeguarding the lives and property of Ugandans,” said Alaso.
Sempala explained: “Having more women in political leadership delivers progress in policy areas that are vital for economic growth and development,” Sempala said.
She said the argument for women’s empowerment is irrefutable. Democracy cannot afford for half of the population not to be wholly and equally engaged in decision-making,”
“Women policy makers prioritize issues that benefit the most vulnerable in society, such as healthcare, welfare and education. more women leaders seem to make for more equal and caring societies,”
“Women are more likely to focus on these issues because they have greater experience of deprivation, and because they are often responsible for caring for others; women are also believed to represent their constituencies, which is linked to a stronger sense among voters that the government is responsive to their needs,” Sempala added.