ABSTRACT
Taking the June 1996 elections as a reference point, this chapter analyzes Ugandan women as political actors in the formal electoral process. It focuses on issues of election campaigns and their outcomes. The 1996 parliamentary campaigns were a classic example of the different ways that gender conditions the culture of politics in Uganda. Women spent a great deal of campaign time convincing the electorate of their moral aptness to stand for political office instead of articulating political issues. Most women had to emphasize their femininity in order to win over the electorate. Particularly for the affirmative action candidates, appearing and acting feminine augured well with an electorate that was dominated by traditional, chauvinist men. The chapter concludes by turning to the FOWODE meeting organized for women legislators in the wake of the 1996 parliamentary elections. Many candidates cried foul after the parliamentary elections, and several petitions were filed challenging the results.
