An Analysis of Gender and Political Glass Ceiling in Apac District Local Governance, Northern Uganda

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the significant endeavor the Uganda government has made to uplift women in political participation, women are underrepresented in elected leadership positions. The paper presents the glass ceiling women encounter in elected leadership positions in the Apac district, northern Uganda. Methods: The researchers used cross-section research design and collected data using researcher-administered questionnaires from 45 respondents from Apac and Akokoro sub-counties. The respondents included female leaders and women political aspirants at Local Council III. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The researchers found that most women who participated in the local governance in Apac district had low formal education attainment, and only 5.9 percent had a bachelor’s degree. Low education level compounded with discriminative cultural values, gender stereotypes and portrayals against female candidates constrained women's political participation. Economically, women lacked ownership over household assets and resources to finance their political campaigns. Female candidates lacked spousal support and faced internal heightened political competition because of their gender. Notwithstanding the challenges, successful women leaders demonstrated resilience to pursue their political path. Conclusion: While the Government of Uganda constitutionally provide leadership prospects, in Apac district, women suffered hidden socio-economic barriers to elected political positions. Thus, implicit gender bias undermines women's participation in leadership and is regarded as followers and not as leaders, justifying women's low participation in competitive elective positions. This paper contributes to the role congruity and social role theories. However, the findings are limited in geographical scope since empirical data covers only two sub-counties in the Apac district, hence not generalizable. The researchers recommend collaborative support from the government, civil society and cultural institutions for women's political participation, including a wide range of mindset change on gender norms and stereotypes. This would enable women to realise their worth as potential leaders.