This case study is based on the Gender and Decentralisation Programme implemented in Lira district, Uganda, from February to April 1997. The programme focused on community discussions on gender and the need to support women's participation in local leadership. It was carried out in the 24 sub-counties of Lira district and the four divisions of the municipality of Lira.
Lira district is located in northern Uganda. It was one of the districts affected by the insurgency in the late 1980s, but has since been peaceful with various development initiatives being undertaken.
In 1995 the Ugandan Government started to develop the Lira District Development Programme (LDDP), with assistance from the Netherlands Government. One of the main objectives of this programme is promoting:
"increased participation of women in social and economic decision making processes and a more autonomous social and economic position of women in society" .(Lira District Development Programme 1996 - 2000.)
A gender study was carried out in 1996/1997, in support of the LDDP. This study revealed that while there were ample opportunities for women to participate in local leadership, they were ill equipped to utilise these openings. Cultural and societal impediments prevented women from full participation in political processes. Women expressed a general feeling that they lacked the support and consent of men both at household and community levels in order to participate in local leadership. The study therefore recommended that a sensitisation programme be undertaken to create community awareness about the need to support and enable women to effectively utilise the opportunities provided by the Constitution and the decentralised governing bodies. The sensitisation programme was to be followed by a training programme for Local Council members, both women and men, about their roles and responsibilities.
Following the study's recommendation the "Gender and Decentralisation Programme" of Lira District was developed, the subject of this case study.
This paper will first look into women's participation in the formulation of Uganda's constitution (1995) and the gains achieved in this process. It will than elaborate on the Gender and Decentralisation Programme in Lira District (Chapter 3), its community sensitisation aspects and the component on strengthening of candidates' leadership capacities. Chapter 4 will look into the successes and challenges/constraints of the Programme. The paper will finish with a conclusion and recommendations for short and long term follow up plans.
