Despite economic and social change throughout Uganda, gender roles are still influenced by tradition. Just like other parts of the world, a majority of women in Uganda assume roles that are primarily domestic.
These roles include housekeeping, child-rearing, fetching water, cooking, and tending to community needs.
However, a breed of Ugandan women is taking advantage of the rising socio-economic status in the country to participate in leadership at community and national level.
So far, five female aspirants have formally registered with the Electoral commission expressing their interest to stand for president of Uganda 2021.
The ladies include a lawyer Phiona Mirembe, 2016 Presidential aspirant Maureen Kyalya, former beauty contestant Nancy Kalembe, a self-proclaimed pan Africanist Brenda Katushemereirwe and Elizabeth Lugudde Katwe
1. Phiona Mirembe
Phiona Mirembe, 32-year-old lawyer says she is contesting for the country’s most top post to change the moral fabrics of the country.
She is the founder of the law firm Mirembe and Company advocates, which she founded in 2014, at the age of 26.
Through the firm, she provides legal services to corporate organisations and serves clients with land transaction issues.
Born 3 January 1988, Phiona Mirembe received a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University in 2011 and a Legal Practice from the law development centre (LDC) in 2013.
In 2019, Mirembe expressed her intentions to stand for president in Uganda elections scheduled for 2021. She describes herself as a woman of very strong convictions.
"Our leaders have a problem with morality, the entire society. If I can be at the top and inspire character, integrity and prosperity, I will sleep a happy person,” said Mirembe.
2. Maureen Kyalya
Maureen Kyalya contested as an independent candidate in 2016. She raised eyebrows when showed up for a presidential debate in an all barkcloth dress. Kyalya picked a handful 40,598 votes which represented 0.44% of the total electorate.
Kyalya said that many women who contest for the big offices fail to run again because of culture and family. President Museveni won with 5,617,503 votes representing 60.75 per cent, followed by Dr Kiiza Besigye who garnered 3,270,290 votes representing 35.37 in the controversial election.
“I have been busy working out why women who contest never come back. It is not luck, it is culture. I have spent the last years fighting with nobody other than my own family. They think a woman is not supposed to be at the high table,” Kyalya told the media.
Kyalya was born in Busoga region, Eastern Uganda. A daughter to Irene Florence Wekiya and Stephen Kyalya Kanobe who was a Royal Prince and a hereditary heir to the Busambira Kingdom of Busog.
"I am a hybrid of the two cultures and social classes. I love being called Princess (Omumbedha) Nantono," she talks in an interview with the Monitor newspaper.
Nantono in Busoga region means a small mother of the nations. A treasured name across all royal Kingdoms of Busoga currently known as "Inhebantu" (Mother of all people) and used in reference to the wife of a reigning Prince of the Land.
"I have three biological children, 42 adopted children from all parts of Uganda and have spent most of my working life within Uganda and the United Kingdom," said Kyalya.
The hardworking lady is focused on the development and mentoring of children and young people.
Ms Kyalya began her school journey at Buckley High School in Iganga, she later joined Iganga Secondary School for her O'Level.
"I went to Nabisunsa Girls School for A' Levels in Buganda. I was 11th in the country's UNEB 1996." Kyalya stated.
She studied law at Makerere University before completing a Bachelor of Laws Degree in 2003 at London Guildhall University.
"I undertook my first Master's degree in Public Service Management specialising in Health and Social Care in 2006. I have embarked on a second Masters degree in Social Work. I am also undertaking a Doctorate in Criminal Justice." Kyalya affirms.
Maureen Kyalya was affiliated to FDC but later switched to NRM as a Presidential Aide and advisor for Busoga region.
She is now the founder of African Restoration Party/ Movement. A party advocating for the reunification of all African States in the search for cultural social, economic, political cooperation. To rid Africa of exploitation from foreign powers.
"I define my faith as being 'spiritualist' which encompasses literally all the religions that believe in a God or spiritual existence of any form," Kyalya said.
Her party slogan read...Preserve Uganda to shine in unity through justice.
3. Nancy Kalembe
Former beauty contestant, Nancy Kalembe is set to take on 21 aspirants in the presidential race. She has already notified the electoral commission of her intentions to consult voters ahead of nominations for the 2021 presidential race.
"I am an adult Ugandans with all the necessary qualifications to seek this high office as per the constitution of the Republic of Uganda and the laws flowing therefrom,” Kalembe said in her letter to the Electoral Commission chairperson.
The 39-old-year says she is fronting transforming agriculture, health and education as key aspects of her manifesto.
“When you talk to the people who are in employment they are crying about the taxes, the Ugandans who are enterprisers are crying about taxation and access to finance," Kalembe says.
Nancy Kalembe was born to the late George Patrick Bageya, who was the former LC-V chairman of Iganga, and Aida Cissy Kubaaza.
She studied at St Mary’s College Namagunga for O-Level and Mariam High School for A-Level.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in population studies from Makerere University in 2007.
In 2003, she joined the Miss Uganda contest and although she did not emerge, winner, she has voted Miss Intelligence, earning her a job with Sanyu FM.
On January 8, 2008, she joined the Apprentice Africa, the African version of the American reality TV show, The Apprentice, hosted by Donald Trump.
She emerged sixth out of the 16 finalists, winning a working slot at PHP Bank in Nigeria.
Kalembe returned to Uganda in 2009 and worked with Orient Bank until she resigned in 2010 to fully concentrate on her businesses.
She is the founder of Spring Clean, a cleaning company, and Mbalimbali Ltd, a pineapple juice and jam-producing company based in Nakawa.
Nancy Kalembe, 34, has worked as a news anchor at UBC and account manager for Uganda Telecom (UTL).
She has also worked as the account holder for Nation Media Group at Lowe Scanad advertising agency, and sales and promotions executive at Sanyu FM.
4. Brenda Katushemereirwe
Brenda Katushemereirwe is a 32-year-old Self –proclaimed pan Africanist. She says youth unemployment is among the things that have forced her into politics.
“We need to look at employment of the youth, agriculture that we call the backbone of Uganda but do you see it being a backbone of Uganda with fluctuating prices,” said Katushemereirwe
Her virtues are based on the belief that unity is vital to the economic, social and political progress of a nation.
Pan-Africanists aim to "unify and uplift" people of African descent. Pan-Africanist intellectual, cultural and political movements tend to view all Africans and descendants of Africans as belonging to a single race and sharing cultural unity.
5. Elizabeth Lugudde Katwe
The fifth contender for the post of presidency come 2021 is Elizabeth Lugudde Katwe, a politician, former Special Presidential Assistant for the Office of the President of Uganda, Human Resource Consultant. She aspired for Woman Member of Parliament Luweero District in 2016.
These powerful ladies will be vying for the highest office in the country with the incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, People Power leader Bobi Wine, Alliance for National Transformation Gen. Mugisha Muntu and Democratic Party's Nobert Mao
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