NRM CEMENTING THE WOMEN VOTE

By the time of writing this parliament was in its final day of approving President Yoweri Museveni’s 80- person cabinet.

This cabinet will prove a landmark in coming years especially because we have women filling in the positions of vice president and prime minster, Jessica Alupo and Robinah Nabbanja but also because women booked  four in ten of the ministerial positions, a first in Uganda’s history.

This is a high point in women’s politics, which while we had women ministers in previous governments, the flood gates of women ministers were flung open in the last 35 years.

The critics of the NRM would not like to hear that, and for good reason.

Historically, not only in Uganda, patrilineal society has shut women out of politics. That is why in the 21st century the US is celebrating their first female vice president.

The nature of the NRM’s bush war however made it impossible to ignore the women’s contribution and hence rig politics to ensure they got a place at the table.

When you are in guerilla struggle it is literally all hands on deck, every body counts, you do not have the luxury of recruiting only men in your ranks. Women finding themselves in the rebel ranks would have been dead weight weren’t they able to make themselves useful.

Secondly,

in order to swell its ranks when it came out of the bush, the NRM sought to incorporate groups previously marginalised...

In 1989 the NRM introduced the women’s female district representative position which added a 39 new seats to the National Resistance Council (NRC), the parliament of the time.

While some people criticised this as tokenism, the  women saw it as a foot in a door and have guarded it jealously ever since.

Other initiatives like the affirmative action for women joining university, has ensured that there is a continuous pipeline of women into politics.

As a result, a female politician does not draw double takes from a population who now see women as real contenders in politics.

And why the critics of the NRM do not like this, the ruling NRM has all the cards in its pocket. It can do some political grandstanding by appointing women to cabinet, has the most district women MPs and can appoint women to any number of high offices in government, the opposition does not have as much leeway. 

"The double benefit to the NRM too, is that most women appointed have performed well, even when more has been expected of them than their male colleagues... .

So its very easy for the NRM to portray itself as the champion of the women vote.

Against the background of the NRM’s dismal performance in the Buganda region in the last election, you can see how the importance of women constituency almost overnight.

The political calculation is that by elevating women to positions of authority, women around the country may see the NRM as the only party that can speak to their issues, if not fully but better than the others.

And its not that NRM has been a good benefactor, in private many women think they are just being used, but its that the ruling party has given them a real chance of effecting change. While the sexists may see it as window dressing, they underestimate the power of example and the possibilities opened up to the millions of young girls around the country in seeing women in power.

Beyond the opposition being unable to make such high profile appointments,

"this political sleight of hand speaks to two political acts we are holding our breaths for – the 2026 presidential elections and the Museveni succession issue....

For the second, the constitution is clear that in the event the president can not carry on, the vice president can takes his place. This may take added importance because no one thought Edward Sekandi had a chance of ascending to the helm of Ugandan politics. Whether Alupo has a chance or not, is less about her and more about the women’s lobby who would be easier to mobilise nationwide than any other constituency tribal or religious. The example of Tanzania’s female Samia Suluhuh Hassan is useful, but not as powerful as the thinking, now ingrained in Uganda that women can get the job done.

As for the 2026 presidential elections, what this cabinet list may very well show in coming years is that the NRM and Museveni in particular may have caught a second wind. 

Assuming the now powerful women execute their duties to the letter, not only will the NRM benefit from a job well done and hence ride on the success of these women but there will always be a feeling that the NRM will al ways do right by them.

Of course the NRM need be aware that when you give them an inch they will take a mile.

"The women of Uganda will not settle for a reversion to the old ways they will always expect to be represented meaningfully at the high table of this country’s politics, as is their right as the more populous of the genders...

Barring any disasters this cabinet may have sealed the 2026 presidential election.