Women in Uganda

Although equality and gender issues are now part of the curriculum in Uganda, many people still hold the old attitudes: i.e. women are the ones supposed to cook, wash, take care of the children, and kneel down when greeting others. While women are in the kitchens cooking, men should go and work to provide for the family. Men give the instructions at home because they are seen as the controllers in the relationship. These ideas are taught to Ugandan children without even realising it, as they watch and copy the older generation.

 

Change is happening, albeit slowly. Women are increasingly going out to work and compete alongside men across the professions. However, even though there has been this change, women still seem to hold all the domestic roles they had from the past. They are still given instructions by men, they are the ones who cook all the meals, they are supposed to take care of their babies, to wash clothes for the children and their husbands, and do all the housework. The man’s work still remains going to work, watching TV, playing football and sleeping. Worst of all, when she gets her salary, the man takes 90% or even 100% control over it in many cases.

I was recently at a presentation by Centenary Bank, one of the largest banks in Uganda.  In Nebbi they have just over 110,000 account holders but only 28,000 are held by women.

In the short time I have been in Uganda I have seen how it is women who are invariably working in the fields, carrying heavy loads on their heads (typically the men will be seen transporting heavy loads strapped to the carrier on the bodaboda (motorbike). 

 

Cooking, cleaning, washing and child care also appears to be the almost exclusive preserve of women.  I am also conscious that most women will kneel or bow when greeting a man and indeed a Muzunga (white) woman. 

Coming from a Western culture where equality issues are far less marked (I accept that there remain inequalities both perceived and real), it has been quite startling for me.  It has been hard for me to adjust to such "in your face" inequality.  When moving around Nebbi and further afield, I am very conscious that whilst I see women working hard, I see groups of men of all ages standing and sitting in groups, sometimes drinking, playing cards, and simply watching the world go by. 

I have also been struck by the disparity in the schools (especially in the secondary schools) between the number of boys and girls.  It is clear that families, when faced with the stark choice of which of their children's education to fund, a boy will always be favoured over a girl, without any regard to academic ability.  However, it is invariably the girls who are most vulnerable to early marriage and pregnancy.  UNICEF data shows that between 50% (in urban areas) and 70% (in rural areas) of girls will become pregnant before they reach 20 years of age.

 
Here at Caritas Nebbi, they are working to improve the opportunities for women and to enable girls to remain in school through sponsorship programmes to pay school fees, purchase uniform, etc.  Many other NGOs offer similar programmes and sponsorship.  There is also an increasing focus on vocational skills training for women with crèche facilities forming part of more and more vocational training providers.