Serious Citizens - Social norms and the position of women in Uganda

1. BARRIERS TO WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Business people help to meet the daily needs of their households, and contribute to the development of Uganda by creating jobs and reducing poverty. As much as men are welcomed to become business people, women should also be able to run businesses. This poll question looked into the challenges women have to become successful business people.
Poll One Infographic Report


2. FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING
In most households in Uganda, men are still the main breadwinners. Women also do a lot of paid work but in addition they contribute more through unpaid work like care for children, elderly, cooking and household work (According to UBoS (2019), women spend on average twice as much time on unpaid work as men). However, Women are not always involved in important financial decisions like buying or selling land or cattle.
Poll Two Infographic Report

3. WOMENS INHERITANCE RIGHTS
The Succession Amendment Act 2022 has brought an exciting shift in women's rights, granting women equal inheritance rights as men. This historic act promises to dramatically boost women's access to land, a vital resource for both agriculture and business investment. Yet, the real test lies in overcoming deeply entrenched traditional practices, which have historically favored men in inheritance and land ownership. What's the best approach to reform these customary practices, according to our listeners?
Poll Three Infographic Report

4. INFORMAL JOBS: WOMEN'S PLIGHT
Jobs can either elevate or exploit, and in Uganda, numerous women are caught in a web of informal employment, characterized by lack of contracts, hazardous conditions, and minimal or no compensation. This undervalued labor strays far from 'decent work,' often leaving women at a disadvantage rather than empowering them economically. So, what's the most significant challenge these women encounter in their informal jobs? 
Poll Four Infographic Report

5. PREVALENCE OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
In Uganda, Gender Based Violence (GBV) remains largely unreported. It is believed that over 1 million women suffer from gender-based violence every year, yet only 17.000 cases were reported to police in 2021. This means that only 1 out of 60 women report gender-based violence to the police! Strengthening mechanisms to reduce gender-based violence requires and deserves full support in planning for a prosperous future.
Poll Five Infographic Report


6. WHY MEN HIT THEIR WIVES
There is a lot of Physical Violence in households across Uganda. Violence against men by women exists, but most cases of physical Gender Based Violence (GBV) involve men hitting their women. There is an assumption that violence towards women in a marriage is to be expected, and therefore is not a big deal. This attitude allows violence to go unpunished and emboldens perpetrators. It also discourages women from rejecting the violence against them.
Poll Six Infographic Report

7. THE PRESSURE ON BOYS AND MEN TO BE PROVIDERS
In a previous poll, this program found that Gender Based Violence is often a result of frustration by men because of poverty. Traditionally, men are regarded as the breadwinners and providers for their households. They are expected to have a stable income, be respected in the village and have their own land. Due to changing circumstances, like massive population growth, not all men can live up to these expectations. Many men feel pressured by their partner, family and peers and resort to domestic violence and substance abuse.
Poll Seven Infographic Report

8. ALCOHOL ABUSE
Alcoholism is widespread in Uganda with one of the highest consumption rates in the African region. Research shows that harmful alcohol use increases the chance of domestic violence. Excessive alcohol use also causes health risks and neglect of responsibilities. Although alcoholism can be treated with the right support, it is better to prevent people from getting addicted and over-consuming alcohol.
Poll Eight Infographic Report


9. CAUSES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCIES
Teenage pregnancy is defined as pregnancies occurring between thirteen and nineteen years of age. According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics UBOS (2018), almost a quarter (one in four) of Ugandan women has given birth by the age of 18. Especially after the covid pandemic, teenage pregnancies were increasing. Over the past 2 years, statistics found 32.000 teenagers getting pregnant every month!
Poll Nine Infographic Report


10. ACCIDENTAL TEENAGE PREGNANCIES
In our previous poll, we found that most teenage pregnancies follow from young people practicing unsafe sex and accidentally getting pregnant. 63% of the 12.000 respondents agreed this was the main reason for teenage pregnancies. Preventing ‘accidental’ teenage pregnancies should therefore be the first priority to reduce teenage pregnancy numbers.
Poll Ten Infographic Report

11. GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER PREGNANCY
Educated girls become educated women who play an important role in developing Uganda. Many countries in East Africa recorded high numbers of teenage pregnancies during the COVID-19 lockdown. In some parts of Uganda there was a 50% increase in the number of teenage pregnancies during Covid lockdowns. Now that schools have started again, many teenage mothers do not return to class for various reasons.
Poll Eleven Infographic Report

12. HOW TO ADDRESS SHAME
In the previous poll we have seen that the biggest challenge for girls about going back to school is that they feel ashamed about it. When it comes to teenage pregnancies, girls carry the heaviest burden compared to boys. Yet, both girls and boys are equally responsible for the pregnancy.
Poll Twelve Infographic Report