Pallisa, Uganda | More than 100 women council executive members from the 21 sub-counties of Pallisa District have been told that only sub-county women council chairpersons are eligible to contest for positions on the District Women Council.
The clarification was made during a meeting convened by Pallisa District Woman Member of Parliament Catherine Achola at her district offices to guide women leaders on election procedures and government programmes available to support their economic empowerment.
NRM District Administrator Sam Emuron, who addressed the meeting, explained that the electoral college for the District Women Council is made up of chairpersons from the 21 sub-counties. He said only the chairpersons can nominate candidates for the district-level positions.
“As we have 21 sub-counties, only the chairpersons will themselves nominate candidates for the positions, and nobody outside will be proposed,” Emuron said. He blamed sub-county and parish registrars for allegedly giving women misleading information about the electoral guidelines.
Emuron also distinguished between the NRM Women’s League and the District Women Council, saying the two structures have different guidelines and electoral arrangements. The clarification, however, left some women leaders disappointed, particularly those who had declined to contest for sub-county chairperson positions.
Stella Adoo, the Secretary for Finance of Chelekura Sub-county Women Council, said she had declined a nomination for chairperson after receiving information that taking the position would prevent her from advancing to the next level. She said the new clarification had technically knocked her out of the race.
In contrast, Hellen Agwaro, the Chairperson of Kibale Town Council, said she had received the correct information early and worked to secure the position. She urged women councils across the 21 sub-counties to support her bid for the district chairperson position.
The meeting also focused on government funding opportunities. Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer John Okia deployed Senior Community Development Officer Mohammed Ata Kisu, the UWEP and YLP focal person, to sensitise the women on accessing government funds. Kisu said women must form registered groups, select viable enterprises, and go through assessment by sub-county and district planning structures before approved projects are forwarded to the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.
Kisu said UWEP projects can receive between Shs4 million and Shs12.5 million depending on the enterprise, while beneficiaries repay with a 5% interest charge in the second year. He also encouraged young women aged 18 to 30 to form groups to benefit from the Youth Livelihood Programme. Several leaders welcomed the meeting, although they cited challenges including poor guidance from registrars and limited connectivity, which they said sometimes causes funds intended for women to remain unused or return to the central government.
Jane Frances Atukot from Agule Town Council commended Hon. Achola for organizing the meeting, saying it provided “double benefit” on both elections and development. She also blamed registrars for failing to provide proper guidance, which led some women to withdraw. Albert Ochibo of Opwateta Sub-county said women would overcome the current challenges and pledged to mobilize more women into groups and promote tree planting and hygiene. William Emuron, Secretary for Works, Technical Services and Production, noted that a key challenge for women in Pallisa is “connectivity,” saying funds meant for women often return to central government at the closure of every financial year.
Achola said she organised the meeting to provide accurate information, reduce confusion, and link women leaders to programmes that can improve their livelihoods.