Examining the Impact of Electoral Gender Bias on Women’s Participation in Political Leadership: A Case Study of Oyam South County in Northern Uganda

Women’s representation in political leadership has increased throughout the world. Nevertheless, major discrepancies continue to exist, particularly in developing nations where structural and cultural impediments continue to be deeply rooted. Despite the policy frameworks that promote gender equality, women in Uganda still face constraints in accessing higher political roles. This study explored the impact of gender biased electoral systems on women’s political engagement and leadership prospects in Oyam South County, Northern Uganda. The study used a combined methodology using both quantitative and qualitative data. For the quantitative data analysis, although 90 respondents were interviewed, one questionnaire was deemed invalid because one respondent was interviewed twice. Therefore, only 89 valid questionnaires were included in the quantitative analysis. The discrepancy between the originally targeted sample and the analysed sample is reflected in the results section. Whereas in qualitative data analysis, 28 out of the targeted 30 respondents were interviewed via key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Quantitative data were studied through descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis. The data reveal that women’s engagement is much higher at the village level (94%) as compared to the district level (20%), showing a disparity in different levels of governance. The main obstacles include lack of financial resources (25.7%), bad attitudes in the community (15.6%), discrimination based on gender (14.1%) and inadequate logistical support. Additionally, 46% of respondents highlighted that electoral procedures constrain women’s chances to govern, with voters, violence and traditional gender roles posing additional hurdles. The study finds that women are active in politics at the grassroots but are constrained by structural and socio-cultural factors that hinder their ascendancy to higher political leadership. It needs integrated institutional reforms, financial support systems and ongoing attempts to change public views towards women’s political participation.