The Rubanda District Woman Member of Parliament, Evelyne Ninsiima Kikafunda, has called for increased participation of women in decision-making spaces, saying gender parity should become a culture in governance.
Kikafunda made the remarks during the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania, where she participated in the Forum for Women Parliamentarians alongside the Ugandan delegation.
She said the forum had demonstrated the capacity of women leaders to contribute to national and global development when given opportunities to participate in decision-making.
Kikafunda said there was an urgent need to ensure women are represented at different levels of leadership and decision-making.
She commended the Ugandan government for prioritising inclusivity and initiatives aimed at advancing the women’s agenda, saying the country should continue promoting equal opportunities for women and men.
The assembly, hosted by the National Assembly of Tanzania from October 5 to 9 at the Arusha International Conference Centre, has brought together hundreds of lawmakers from across the world to deliberate on good governance, inclusivity and opportunities for communities.
Kikafunda is part of a Ugandan parliamentary delegation accompanying the Speaker of the 12th Parliament, Rt Hon Jacob Markson Oboth, to strengthen Uganda’s engagement with the IPU and promote multilateral parliamentary diplomacy.
The delegation includes Nancy Acora (Lamwo District), Juliet Lodou Achayo (Ngora County), Brenda Nabukenya (Luwero District), Nathan Byanyima (Bukanga North County), Elma Kapel Challa (Youth Representative, Northern Region), Norah Nyendwoha Bigirwa (Buliisa District) and Richard Machika Owere (West Budama North East County).
Kikafunda said the assembly provides Uganda with an opportunity to strengthen international networks, promote the country’s potential and attract investment and bilateral trade.
She added that the Ugandan delegation is also focused on championing the aspirations of young people and contributing to global discussions on inclusive governance and opportunities for all.
Founded in 1889, the IPU is a global organisation of national parliaments, bringing together 183 national member parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development while supporting parliaments to become stronger, greener and more gender-balanced.
Speaker Oboth said he had interacted with the IPU Committee on Human Rights over human rights cases involving some current and former Ugandan MPs.
He said the outcomes of the assembly would be important in strengthening Uganda’s parliamentary diplomacy and supporting the country’s development aspirations under the National Development Plan IV and the 10-fold growth strategy.
