LeadHERship: Empowering women candidates.

Women’s leadership is crucial for inclusive decision-making and gender-responsive policies. Running for office allows you to influence laws and policies that affect women, girls and the broader community. 

• Personal Profile: Assess if you have the vision, leadership skills, integrity, and experience to serve effectively.
• Family and Community Support: Consider the importance of backing from loved ones and a strong community reputation.
• Electoral and Legal Requirements: Verify that you meet the age, citizenship, residency, and other legal criteria.
• Party Support: If running under a party ticket, ensure you have the necessary endorsement and backing from local party structures.

• Assess the Political Environment: Understand local opportunities and challenges, including party dynamics and voter sentiments.
• Craft a Strong Personal Profile and Message: Clearly outline your qualifications, experience, and how you will address the needs of your constituents. Understand the needs of your community and present clear, actionable solutions. Emphasize the qualities that make you a dedicated leader.
• Build Relationships: Engage with influential community leaders, women’s groups, youth movements, religious figures, business owners, and other key stakeholders who can support your candidacy to strengthen your support base. 
• Assemble a Dedicated Team: Form a campaign team with strategic advisors, mobilizers, and volunteers. Include roles such as a campaign manager, treasurer, publicity secretary, e.t.c to handle various aspects of the campaign.
• Leveraging Media & Digital Platforms

1. Use radio, TV, and newspapers to increase visibility.
2. Utilize social media (Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), WhatsApp, TikTok) to connect with voters, especially young people.
3. Engage in debates and community dialogues to share your views.

Align with your party manifesto: When creating your campaign manifesto, ensure that your key issues and proposed solutions reflect the priorities outlined in your political party’s manifesto. This not only shows consistency but also strengthens your credibility as a candidate. At the same time, address the specific needs and concerns of your community to make your message relatable and grounded in local realities.

• Keep it Simple and Clear: Use easy-to-understand language to ensure your message is accessible to everyone.
  • Highlight Key Points: Focus on the most important issues in your community, as people may not have time to read lengthy documents.
• Be Direct and Actionable: Present clear solutions to community concerns, with specific steps on how you will address them.
• Make it Personal: Include a brief introduction about yourself and why you’re the right candidate to lead.
• Design for Impact: Ensure the manifesto is visually appealing and easy to navigate, so voters can quickly find key information.

• Speak Clearly and Confidently: Use a moderate pace, maintain eye contact, and project confidence.
• Keep It Concise and Focused: Ensure your speeches are short, impactful, and centered on key issues.
• Engage Your Audience: Use humor, personal stories, and a positive tone to connect with voters and reinforce your message.

Women in politics often encounter unique challenges, including: 

• Gender-based violence & intimidation – Women candidates are often targeted with harassment and smear campaigns. (Read more on women’s experiences from the 2016 elections in Uganda via https://fowode.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Women-Shattering-The-Glass-Ceiling.pdf)
• Limited campaign resources – Fundraising for campaigns can be difficult for women due to financial constraints.
• Negative cultural norms – Society often discourages women from seeking leadership roles.
• Balancing family & politics – Women are expected to juggle domestic responsibilities with their campaigns.

• Build Community Support: Engage consistently with local initiatives to earn trust and demonstrate your commitment.
• Overcome Cultural Norms: Clearly communicate your dedication to serving your community, regardless of societal expectations.
• Address Criticism Directly: Maintain a transparent campaign and address any negative rumors or attacks head-on.
• Strengthen Personal Safety: Take necessary precautions, such as documenting incidents of intimidation, and report them to relevant authorities such as the Electoral Commission and police. Work with a trusted team and arrange secure travel with a safety plan in place.
• Build a strong financial strategy: Leverage fundraising, savings, and donor support. 

• Plan and delegate responsibilities where possible.
• Engage family and community support networks to help manage responsibilities during your campaign.

• List campaign activities and estimate the cost for each.
• Monitor expenditures and control spending by having a clear budget.
• Break down expenditure, For instance:
  20%: Administrative costs (phone calls, stationery, volunteer support).
  70%: Voter contact costs (posters, meetings, brochures, media campaigns).
  10%: Research and data collection.
• Develop a fundraising strategy: identify potential well-wishers and tailor appeals to their interests.
• Take lead on the fundraising efforts but involve volunteers when necessary.

Use events and luncheons for fundraising, discussing the budget, and collecting contributions.
Thank well-wishers and keep them informed about the campaign progress.

• Monitor elections and tally results.
• Ensure elections are conducted freely and fairly.
• Deploy your most effective polling agents in opposition areas.
• Equip team members with knowledge of electoral regulations.
• Assign volunteers as polling agents and a tallying team with clear guidelines.

• Organize an appreciation event for your team and voters.
• Send messages of appreciation to the community. (Use radio, write letters and share SMS)
• Show solidarity by expressing appreciation to your opponents.
• Initiate reconciliation between your supporters and opponents.
• Fulfill your manifesto by organizing a meeting to discuss future plans with local and opinion leaders.

Losing is part of the democratic process. Stay engaged, continue advocating for women’s rights, and prepare for future opportunities in leadership. 

• Presidential Elections: Open to all Ugandan citizens over 35 years.
• Parliamentary Elections: Includes District Woman MPs, Constituency MPs, and Special Interest Groups (Workers, PWDS, Youth, etc)
• Local Government Elections: Includes Local Council (LC) positions at different levels (district Chairpersons, Municipality Mayors, LC5, LC3, etc.)

Read more https://www.ec.or.ug/

Presidency

• Must be a Ugandan citizen by birth, at least 35 years old, and have an Advanced Level (A-Level) certificate or its equivalent.
• Voter Registration: You must be a Ugandan citizen and a registered voter.
• Clean Record: Avoid past involvement in electoral misconduct or other disqualifying issues.
• Mental Competence: You must be of sound mind.
• Public Office Resignation: If you currently hold a public office, you must resign within the required timeframe before the nomination day.

N.B: A public officer, including anyone employed in a government department or agency, a local government, or a body in which the government has a controlling interest, who wishes to stand for election to a local government office, must resign from their position at least 30 days before nomination day, in accordance with the procedures of their respective service or employment.

Member of Parliament

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have an A-Level certificate or its equivalent.
• You must be a citizen of Uganda and a registered voter.
• You must not be involved in any way in the conduct of elections.
• You must not have been declared bankrupt by a competent court.
• You must not be a traditional or cultural leader.

  District Chairperson

• Must qualify to be a member of Parliament.

•  Must be at least 18 years.

• Must ordinarily be a resident of the district or provide a written declaration of intent to become a resident within the next 6 months.

• Must have completed a minimum education level equivalent to Advanced Level or its equivalent.

  District Councillor

• Must be a citizen of Uganda and a registered voter.

• Must be 18 years of age or above.

• Must have at least 5 registered voters from each electoral area.

• Must not be disqualified from holding local government office under the Local Government Act or any other law in force.

  Subcounty Councillor

• Must be a citizen of Uganda and a registered voter.

• Must be 18 years of age or above.

• Must have at least 5 registered voters from each electoral area

• Must not be disqualified from holding local government office under the Local Government Act or any other law in force.

  N.B: Please note that there are no minimum educational requirements for persons standing for local councilor at all levels.