2026 polls: Women warned against GBV threats - New Vision Official
Unaware of his intentions, she went in only to be met with an unsettling proposal: She should sleep with him and publicly present him as her husband, claiming it would improve her chances with voters.
“The door was locked behind me. I told him that he would have to kill me that day to do whatever he wanted with me. I remember thinking that the Lord who I serve every day will get me out of this situation,” Achiro says.
Fortunately, Aciro’s campaign manager asked her to leave the room after having asserted herself the way she did.
It is against Aciro’s experience that women, especially those aspiring for various leadership positions, have been cautioned to stay alert for gender-based violence (GBV) threats as the 2026 general election nears.
Women Members of Parliament (MPs) caution would-be contestants in the upcoming elections to beware of voters, campaign managers and election managers who take advantage of their vulnerability as women.
This was revealed during a discussion between Uganda Women's Network (UWONET) and women MPs on March 10, 2025, at the Hilltop Garden Inn in Kamwokya, Kampala.
The discussion focused on key milestones in women’s rights and gender equality, challenges faced and strategies to overcome them.
Jane Avur Pacuto (MP Pakwach) discouraged women from allowing themselves to be vulnerable during elections.
According to her, election time is a period for women to be strong because men take advantage of women who cannot stand up for themselves.
“These men have a way of spotting a weak or vulnerable woman. Let us not be vulnerable to people who want to take advantage. If it were me, I would have slapped the man. How do you take me to a bedroom for campaign discussions?” Pacuto asserted.
She further urged women to always read the room and the situation at hand, such that they protect themselves from being victims of GBV during elections.
Additionally, Stella Isoda Apolot (Ngora District) mentioned the need for female candidates to be clear, consistent and persistent with their campaign agenda such that they earn public respect and trust.
“Whether you are a woman, the public needs to know that they are electing someone who will fight for their rights. Refrain from paying voters or being used by male counterparts because you are desperate for power,” Apolot said.
She added that those who are desperate to be voted, always end up losing elections even after being taken advantage of.
“It is important to know your worth and always remember why you want to be a leader for your people. The people also see potential and will give worthy one. I contested and lost twice, but in the 2021 election, the people voted for me because they saw my vision. Don’t lose hope,” Apolot explained.
Sarah Opendi (Tororo District) urged women to dress modestly.
"One of the issues that the women bring out is how they are looked at as merely sex objects," she stated.
However, Opendi believes that how women present themselves plays a role in shaping this perception.
"You find women with breasts half way exposed. Thighs half way exposed. You are a married woman, for whom are you exposing these things?" she said.
While acknowledging that people have the freedom to dress the way they want, Opendi maintained that if women want to be respected, they need to earn it.
She argued that wearing revealing clothing can lead to a loss of respect, not just from men but also from fellow women.
She, therefore, made a humble appeal for women, especially those that will participate in campaigns, to dress in a manner that reflects responsibility and dignity.
BackgroundAlthough women comprise over half of the eligible voters in Uganda, they continue to suffer from election violence.
According to the Economic Policy Research Center data, evidence from the 2020 Violence Against Women and Girls Survey reveals high levels of election violence against women voters in Uganda.
The data shows election violence against women voters in Uganda results from militarizing electoral processes, commercialization of elections, shifts in violence from homes to public spaces, and queuing behind candidates.
