By Spy Uganda
Cecilia Barbara Atim Ogwal, a famous Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) opposition party has left Ugandans with mixed reactions after her surprise appearance at ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ruling party secretariat where she heartily praised President Yoweri Museveni for a couple of contributions to Uganda noting big cabinet positions which he has allocated to the women.
Her move has since left Ugandans thinking that she is trying to attract the president’s attention to fish her from FDC like former Joyce Ssebugwawo who was picked last year for the ministerial role.
“Justification of women empowerment in the administrative space since 1986 and their role in the development towards economic transformation,” said Ogwal.
Dokolo District Woman Member of Parliament lauded Museveni for his efforts in empowering women whom she said were neglected by the previous regimes.
“Let me applaud the president of Uganda for appreciating women’s roles in this country. I am glad that he responded to my repeated dream of having another female vice president and a female Prime Minister. I was always wondering if NRM does not have any other able women who can serve as vice president ever since Dr Specioza Kazibwe left the position. At least now we have only one man in Prime Minister’s docket, Gen. Moses Ali whom I think he is going to retire,” Ogwal said amidst cheers and ululations from an excited physical audience.
In a statement, the former Uganda People’s Congress party Secretary-General, Ogwal implored the NRM government and the parliament to enact more stringent laws that give more freedom and emancipate women to enable them to take more roles in the socio-economic transformation of this country.
“We need to set the women free by putting in place good policies that give them some freedom. We need to support them to achieve their ambitions. I also urge the NRM party to do their best in lobbying the world for women to get equal rights with men. There’s a lot of work to be done, either through sensitization or legislation,” Ogwal said in a statement.
“Women need to go through a revolution, a paradigm shift,” she said, adding, “A woman must be respected. It’s our responsibility as women to fight for our rights but with a willing government. Women have fought many silent battles in their homes, especially in marriages where patriarchy dominates. We need to manage the society in a manner that accommodates everybody regardless of gender,” she emphasized.
“The traditions and cultural prejudices against women can be broken by putting good laws. However we have the challenge of implementation,” she added.
The former Lira municipality Member of Parliament thanked president Museveni for reviving the Pan African women movement saying that it is now very active.
“As a specialized organization of women, we are going to get involved in conflict resolution agenda. We are happy that the parliament of Uganda has put aside some money to put an office of the Secretary-General of the Pan African women organization Uganda chapter, just like what South Africa and other countries have done,” she noted.
“Because of world history where women were treated with different contempt, affirmative action to tackle that belief saved us a lot,” she said, adding, “When you look at our parliament and the cabinet today, women are at the helm of leadership”.
Ogwal also emphasized the need for ladies to fight and take up many roles even in other sectors.
“We need to tighten a bit to consolidate this milestone. Many sectors are lacking women. It is high time women occupy that vacuum,” she said.
