Kampala: National Women Council chairperson aspirant Irene Adokorach has called for a free and fair electoral process, urging the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretariat and the Electoral Commission to ensure all candidates have equal access to delegates ahead of the national Women Council elections.
Adokorach, who hails from northern Uganda, said the Women Council should remain a platform where women from across the country can freely interact with candidates, scrutinise their manifestos and make informed decisions about their preferred leaders.
She also congratulated women who emerged victorious in the various district-level elections, while urging those who lost not to consider their defeat the end of their political careers.
“I know it has not been something simple. The way we’ve always been taking politics, the narrative has changed. Women Council used to be something very simple, but from the experience that we’ve gone through, it has not been easy,” Adokorach said.
She commended the outgoing Women Council leadership for raising the profile of the council and making it a recognised platform for women across Uganda.
However, Adokorach said she decided to contest for the national chairperson position because she believes the council can do more to directly address the challenges faced by ordinary women, particularly those living in rural communities.
“National Women Council is a platform for every woman. This is the platform where we come out and we speak to ourselves,” she said.
Adokorach argued that women’s empowerment should not be confined to urban centres, saying programmes and policies targeting women must deliberately reach those living in villages and underserved communities.
“Uganda as a country has been talking about empowering the women. But which type of a woman are we going to empower? Empowerment should not be talked about in urban settings. But let’s talk about that rural woman in Kiryandongo district, in Gulu, in Mbarara, everywhere,” she said.
She said her campaign would therefore place emphasis on local content and the participation of women at the grassroots, noting that even women living in urban areas have links to villages and communities where they originate.
Her strongest criticism, however, was directed at what she described as restrictions preventing candidates from accessing some delegates during the ongoing electoral process.
According to Adokorach, some delegates are allegedly being kept away from candidates, with some phones reportedly switched off, making it difficult for aspirants to interact with voters and present their manifestos.
“We are crying out to the nation that if we want to put the ideas of the women outside, we are saying no to whatever is happening in the country,” she said.
“How are you going to put a manifesto where all the delegates are kept? Why should we keep delegates? And yet this is an opportunity where every woman should come out. You say your manifesto, that as someone who is contesting at the national level, I have this package for you.”
Adokorach appealed to the NRM Secretariat to ensure that delegates are accessible to all candidates if the party is organising the primary elections.
She also called upon the Electoral Commission to clarify and enforce the rules governing access to delegates, saying the electoral body had previously indicated that no contestant should be allowed to keep delegates.
“The Electoral Commission made a statement that there is no contestant who is allowed to keep the delegates. We call upon the Electoral Commission to give a statement. Women should be released so that we are given an opportunity to present our manifestos before the women,” she said.
Adokorach argued that denying candidates access to delegates undermines competitive elections and deprives women of the opportunity to make informed decisions about the candidates seeking their votes.
She further cautioned against reducing leadership contests to financial competition, saying capable women without financial backing or political sponsors risk being pushed out of elective politics.
“Politics has come to a level that if you don’t have the money, you don’t go through. But why should we put money ahead of everything we are doing?” she asked.
She said women should not be judged primarily on their financial status or the political connections behind them, but on their competence, ideas, leadership record and ability to listen to the concerns of fellow women.
“Some of us do not have what we call godfathers. But then, if I don’t have a godfather, should I not show my interest? Should I not really be given a platform to talk to the women? We are saying no,” she said.
Adokorach also appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to consider the concerns raised by women candidates and ensure that the electoral ground is levelled for all aspirants.
“Look at the women, look at us. We are crying before you that the ground should be levelled to each and every woman,” she said.
She said her manifesto would focus on issues affecting women at the grassroots but questioned how voters could assess her proposals if candidates are denied an opportunity to interact with delegates.
“As we talk now, how will you get to know about Irene’s manifesto if someone is hiding?” she asked.
Adokorach also used the occasion to appreciate Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, whom she described as her boss, for giving her opportunities to participate in NRM mobilisation activities across the country.
“I want to thank you, my boss. You’ve given me a platform always. I have mobilised the country to support NRM party. You’ve given us the skills and we’ll always appreciate you,” she said.
She urged women voters to prioritise competence and leadership ability over financial muscle or political sponsorship when choosing their next national leader.
Adokorach said women without wealthy backers or political “godfathers” should equally be given the opportunity to contest and present their ideas to voters.
“Whether with money or without money, we are there,” she said.
She concluded by urging women delegates to consider her candidacy, presenting herself as a leader with a programme aimed at strengthening the Women Council as a platform for grassroots women.
“Irene is the best candidate. Irene is this woman who has something on table to share with you,” she said.
Adokorach’s candidacy comes as the race for the National Women Council chairperson position intensifies, with several contenders seeking to lead the national women’s structure.
