“Why Are Delegates Being Hidden? Release Them & Feel Music”-Adokorach Challenges Women Council Electoral Process

By Swift Reporter

National Women Council chairperson aspirant Irene Adokorach has called for a free, fair and transparent electoral process, urging the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretariat and the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure all candidates have equal access to delegates ahead of the national Women Council elections.

Adokorach, an Acholi from northern Uganda, said the National Women Council should remain an open platform where women from across the country can interact with candidates, scrutinise their manifestos and make informed decisions about who should lead them.

She made the remarks while addressing concerns surrounding the ongoing Women Council electoral process, particularly allegations that some candidates are being denied access to delegates.

Adokorach congratulated women who emerged victorious in the various district-level elections and encouraged those who lost not to regard the setbacks as the end of their political careers.

“I know it has not been something simple. The way we’ve always been taking politics, the narrative has changed. Women Council used to be something very simple, but from the experience that we’ve gone through, it has not been easy,” she said.

She also commended the outgoing Women Council leadership for raising the profile of the council and transforming it into a recognised platform for women across Uganda.

However, Adokorach said she decided to contest for the national chairperson position because she believes the council can do more to directly address the challenges facing ordinary women, particularly those living in rural and underserved communities.

“National Women Council is a platform for every woman. This is the platform where we come out and we speak to ourselves,” she said.

Focus On Rural Women

Adokorach said women’s empowerment programmes should not be concentrated in urban centres, arguing that government and political leaders must deliberately reach women in villages and hard-to-reach communities.

“Uganda as a country has been talking about empowering the women. But which type of a woman are we going to empower? Empowerment should not be talked about in urban settings. But let’s talk about that rural woman in Kiryandongo District, in Gulu, in Mbarara, everywhere,” she said.

She said her campaign would therefore focus on grassroots participation and local issues affecting women across the country.

According to Adokorach, even women living in urban areas maintain strong links to rural communities where they were born or where their families originate, making grassroots issues relevant to the wider women’s movement.

Adokorach’s strongest criticism was directed at what she described as restrictions on candidates’ access to delegates.

She alleged that some delegates were being kept away from candidates, while some of their phones had reportedly been switched off, making it difficult for aspirants to interact with voters and present their manifestos.

“We are crying out to the nation that if we want to put the ideas of the women outside, we are saying no to whatever is happening in the country,” she said.

“How are you going to put a manifesto where all the delegates are kept? Why should we keep delegates? And yet this is an opportunity where every woman should come out. You say your manifesto, that as someone who is contesting at the national level, I have this package for you.”

She appealed to the NRM Secretariat to ensure delegates are accessible to all candidates if the party is responsible for organising the primary elections.

Adokorach also called on the Electoral Commission to clarify and enforce the rules governing candidates’ access to delegates.

“The Electoral Commission made a statement that there is no contestant who is allowed to keep the delegates. We call upon the Electoral Commission to give a statement. Women should be released so that we are given an opportunity to present our manifestos before the women,” she said.

She argued that restricting candidates from accessing delegates undermines competitive elections and denies women voters the opportunity to compare candidates and make informed choices.

Money Should Not Decide Leadership

Adokorach also criticised what she described as the growing influence of money in electoral politics, warning that capable women without financial backing or political sponsors could be pushed out of leadership contests.

“Politics has come to a level that if you don’t have the money, you don’t go through. But why should we put money ahead of everything we are doing?” she asked.

She said candidates should be judged on their competence, ideas, leadership record and ability to address the concerns of women rather than their financial resources or political connections.

“Some of us do not have what we call godfathers. But then, if I don’t have a godfather, should I not show my interest? Should I not really be given a platform to talk to the women? We are saying no,” she said.

Adokorach appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to consider the concerns raised by women candidates and ensure that all aspirants compete on a level playing field.

“Look at the women, look at us. We are crying before you that the ground should be levelled to each and every woman,” she said.

She further questioned how delegates could assess her manifesto if she and other candidates were denied sufficient opportunities to interact with them.

“As we talk now, how will you get to know about Irene’s manifesto if someone is hiding?” she asked.

Adokorach also used the occasion to appreciate Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, whom she described as her boss, for giving her opportunities to participate in NRM mobilisation activities across the country.

“I want to thank you, my boss. You’ve given me a platform always. I have mobilised the country to support NRM party. You’ve given us the skills and we’ll always appreciate you,” she said.

She urged women delegates to prioritise competence, leadership ability and ideas over financial muscle or political sponsorship when choosing their next national leader.

“Whether with money or without money, we are there,” she said.

As she intensifies her campaign, Adokorach is positioning herself as a candidate focused on strengthening the National Women Council as a platform for grassroots women and ensuring that their concerns are reflected in national programmes and policies.

“Irene is the best candidate. Irene is this woman who has something on table to share with you,” she said.

Adokorach’s candidacy comes as competition for the National Women Council chairperson position intensifies, with several contenders seeking to lead the country’s national women’s structure.