Whistleblower wants local govt ministry deployment halted over gender imbalance

A whistleblower, John Richard Matua, has written to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development asking them to halt the deployment of Chief Administrative Officers, Deputy Chief Administrative Officers and Town Clerks of Cities and Municipalities effected by the Ministry of Local Government in February 2023.

“Acting in public as a Ugandan citizen of sound mind, aged 40 years, and an NRM Cadre, I request you to undertake actions provided for within your mandate as the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to halt the purported deployments and cause appropriate reviews to be effected by the appointing authority,” the letter reads in part.

“From the salutations before the names, out of deployed officers, the number of women in the purported deployment falls below the minimum 30% (1/3) provided for in the law. This contravenes several provisions of the constitution of the Republic of Uganda, specifically Articles 21(1-3); 32 (1); and 33(1-5), the Employment Act (2006) and Employment Regulations (2011) that provide for equal rights to and protection of women and men in employment. In accordance with Section 6 (3), discrimination in employment is unlawful,”

“Furthermore, considering that Uganda ratified the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, I pray that you graciously stop the aforementioned deployments and compel the Ministry of Local Government to comply with the constitution, Employment Act (2006), Employment Regulation (2011) and other provisions.”