The Extent of Contribution and Challenges of Women Council Representatives Performance in Decision Making Process: The Case of Gulu District Local Government (2016-2020)

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed at presenting the struggle of women councilors to remain active and relevant while participating at the Gulu district council politic and interrogates the challenges they face while exercising their legislative duties. Methodology: The research deployed qualitative methods of data collection including key informant interviews, focus group discussions, document review like council minutes. The study used in-depth interviews, focus group discussion based on the research questions derived from the objectives of the study. Meanwhile some data were quantified just for easy presentation purposes of the study data. Findings: This study argues that Women Councilors at local level are disadvantaged at the council decision making process and general council political participation compared to their male counterparts due to many factors that include biological, level of education plus the abstract environment already set by the patriarchy society. This study also adds that in the case of Gulu district, one of the post war conflict districts in Uganda, even the local media is hostile to the women councilors as they majorly report only negative things about them and not give them a positive projection in the press although beyond that, the study also notes that the media in question majorly rely on male councilors as their news sources and not the women councilors denying- female commiserate voices in their stories. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended legislative training for women councilors and the use of local languages in extreme cases at the district council level to allow free expression of the group who could not comprehend English for council debates. The study also recommended gender mainstreaming in the local press to uphold deliberate gains by donors and the government on gender mainstreaming and inclusiveness at local level.