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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 27345, member: 2262"] Women leaders spoke out against recent election violence at Kawempe North. The Forum for Women in Democracy said Thursday that fights during campaigns make women stay away from politics. This hurts democracy because fewer voices help make decisions. Former opposition leader Winnie Kiiza explained that violence stops women from running for office. She said rough campaigns crush the spirit of women who might want to enter politics. These barriers keep women from places where important choices happen for the country. The group responded after security forces attacked National Unity Platform members during a local election. These attacks raise fears about what might happen when Uganda votes again during national elections planned for 2026. Trouble began on February 26 after Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola received his nomination papers. He tried to walk with supporters to Mbogo Mosque for a speech. Armed officers from the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce grabbed him instead and beat many people around him. TV reporter Miracle Ibra tried to film what happened. Officers then attacked him badly, causing damage to his eye. Both parliament members and regular citizens have spoken against this attack on the press. Kiiza stressed that her group condemns any attacks on citizens during campaign time. She added that violence remains wrong no matter which party faces it. Every political group should have equal chances to share their ideas without fear of being hurt. She believes fair elections build trust between people and their government. When leaders fail to protect citizens, people lose faith quickly. The government must ensure everyone can take part freely, with all their rights respected. Kiiza told reporters that female supporters faced beatings during the Kawempe election. She worried many fathers would stop daughters from joining future campaigns after seeing this danger. Girls might avoid certain parties they believe in because of safety concerns. FOWODE started with the women who helped write the Ugandan Constitution in 1994-1995. They want men and women to have equal voices in all decisions, both public and private. Uganda has laws promising equality through its Constitution and Gender Policy. Georgia Tumwesigye from FOWODE explained that women face harsh treatment when running for direct seats. Special rules helped women reach 30 percent representation, but that created an invisible barrier, as women never passed 35 percent of Parliament seats. The current Parliament has 33.8 percent women, with just 7.4 percent winning direct contests against men. Local government shows even worse numbers. Only five women lead as county chairpersons compared to 141 men across Uganda. Research after the 2021 elections revealed disturbing facts. Over 60 percent of female candidates reported deep stereotypes and unfair power games. Many received threats of sexual violence or property damage if they continued campaigning. Tumwesigye emphasized these attacks violate rights and create hopelessness among women. Democracy suffers along with gender equality and national progress. Her group calls for immediate steps to build safe spaces where female leaders receive protection and support. FOWODE wants security forces and election officials to enforce strict rules against campaign violence. As one key step, they suggest training officers about gender issues. Political parties must reject dirty tactics and push for peaceful elections. Community talks reduce violence by 40 percent, according to their research. Courts need to show fairness when handling election violence cases. They should process cases faster when women voters or candidates face attacks. Judges should follow international agreements that promote leadership by women. [/QUOTE]

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