The outgoing Sheema District Woman Member of Parliament Rosemary Nyakikongoro spoke to Darious Magara the Managing Editor of Eastafricanwatch.net today in an exclusive interview below, check it below;
Qns. What were you doing before joining Parliament?
An. I was engaged in women empowerment programs in civil society organizations such as ACFODE and others where were training women leaders to join politics and leadership and governance roles in society. At the time we had leaders such as Hon Maria Matembe (Hon) Winnie Byanyima, Hon Laganda ete and I and my colleagues were pushing for gender issues and societal development especially in awakening the abilities of a woman, who today is the family’s main bread winner.
I also worked at Makerere University in the School of women and gender.
Qns. Have the women and girls attained equality with men?
Ans, I don’t think women have gained equality with men although some elite women have stamped their presence in leadership, management and governance roles but a lot needs to be done since many local women are still vulnerable; poor and face domestic violence among other social challenges.
However, I salute President Yoweri Museveni and the NRM government for supporting gender mainstreaming in government and for supporting women who have now become great leaders and managers in Uganda.
Qns; What special thing have you registered or achieved as a woman MP now for two terms in the Ugandan parliament?
Ans; On PDM, we passed a law that several women should benefit from the PDM money since they are the main family bread winners today(30%). If this is implemented families will get better economically since money will be in the hands of women who are supporting our economy greatly.
Secondary, we have passed a law that all monies and budgets should have a component of the gender equal certificate. We have also made laws that protect women rights in marriage and in other fields.
“ So among the laws we have passed or enacted, this means that government programs are made with a positive bias to support women programs and projects and businesses ”.
Qns, What can be done to make men aware of their family head roles?
Ans,; We need a lot of sensitization to change the mindset of men and wake them up to work with their women/ children so that they can greatly contribute to meeting the family needs; such as school fees, clothing, housing, health care needs which much of it or all have been left as responsibility of women absurdly switching roles of men and women in our society(African).
Qns; So why did you join Parliament?
Ans; I joined Parliament to push for policies that benefit and support a local woman and how they can work with their families to develop them (families) and our country.
Qns; What do you want to achieve as an EALA MP?
Ans; I am looking at scaling up my services in contributing to good policy making so that we empower Ugandan women, develop Uganda as we push for Economic emancipation of all Ugandans. We have a bigger market in the EAC and once we legislate well for Uganda, we can achieve much economic development for Ugandans.
“ I also support the East African Integration; today USA is a powerful State (country) because the states in U.S.A formed a block and become a great political and Economic world block( USA) , similarly, East Africans can become great if we unite”.
Qns; What do you admire about President Museveni?
Ans; He is a great leader, statesman, father and baba wa taifa(father of the nation).
“I love his 4-acre Economic development model. The model is Miraculous and practical; I appeal to Ugandans to embrace it to fight poverty, this model works, it has worked for me and some of my people”
Qns; You once chaired a security Committee of Parliament, what do you think can be done so that the USA / Israel Vs Iran war ends?
Ans; It’s one word, let them talk peace, what will they benefit if people keep dying in war? We beg and humbly appeal for peace and unity especially the USA / Israel Vs Iran war. This war affects all of us in one way or another, we pray that it ends.
“In a modern society, we don’t just fight, let’s have peace talks, it’s possible, we are sorry for the casualties of war on the globe; DR Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Gaza and Ukraine. We pray for peace on the globe”
Qns; What is your appeal to NRM leaders?
Ans; I appeal to NRM CEC, NRM Leaders; MPs (old and in coming) to support my EALA MP bid, i am able, ready fresh and i am armed with two years Parliamentary experience and ready to serve my people. I am a senior NRM cadre, when I lost in the local MP elections, I conceded defeat and embarked on another political call, so I request MPs to support me and they will not regret my services when am elected an EALA MP soon.
“Ask them (NRM leaders) to support me, I will network, and work for the good of Ugandans at EALA. At EALA just like at the Ugandan Parliament, i will be ready to work, not to eat subusa as some people think”
