NATIONAL WOMEN'S COUNCIL ACT. -

An Act to provide for the establishment of a National Women’s Council and to provide for its composition, functions, objects and powers and for other connected purposes.

PART I
INTERPRETATION.

1. Interpretation.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

(a) “chairperson” means the chairperson of the National Women’s Executive Committee;

(b) “council” means the National Women’s Council established under section 2;

(c) “district”, “county”,”subcounty”, “division”, “town”, “parish”, “ward” and “village” mean, respectively, “district”, “county”, “subcounty”, “division”, “town”, “parish”, “ward”, and “village” within the meaning of the Local Governments Act;

(d) “Minister” means the Minister responsible for women in development;

(e) “women” means all females aged 18 years and above;

(f) “women’s committee” means a women’s committee established under section 7.

PART II
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S COUNCIL.

2. Establishment of the council.

(1) There is established a council to be known as the National Women’s Council.

(2) The council shall be a body corporate, shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue or be sued in its corporate name.

(3) The council may, for and in connection with its objects and functions under this Act, purchase, hold, manage and dispose of any property, whether movable or immovable, and may enter into such contracts and other transactions as may be expedient and may do any other act or thing as in law may be done by a body corporate.

3. Objects and functions of the council.

(1) The objects of the council are—

(a) to organise the women of Uganda in a unified body; and

(b) to engage the women in activities that are of benefit to them and the nation.

(2) For the attainment of its objects under subsection (1), the council shall have the following functions—

(a) to inspire and promote among the women a spirit of unity and national consciousness;

(b) to provide a unified and integrated system through which the women may communicate and coordinate their ideas and activities;

(c) to establish channels through which economic and social services and amenities may reach the women in all areas of Uganda;

(d) to encourage the women to consolidate their role in national development in the political, economic, social, cultural and educational fields;

(e) to promote relations with international women’s organisations with similar objectives or interests;

(f) to do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects of the council under this Act.

4. Composition of National Women’s Council.

(1) The Council shall consist of—

(a) the Chairperson of each District Women’s Council;

(b) a representative of women with disabilities to be elected from among themselves through their structures;

(c) three women representatives of non-governmental organisations involved in women’s affairs or business to be determined by the National Women’s Council;

(d) a representative of the Ministry responsible for gender and women advancement;

(e) the secretary for female youth on the National Youth Executive Committee;

(f) a representative of women Parliamentarians elected from among the women members of Parliament; and

(g) the Executive Secretary of the National Women’s Council.

(2) The members of the Council in paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of subsection (1) shall be ex officio members who shall just participate in the deliberations of the Council without a deciding vote.

PART III
ESTABLISHMENT, COMPOSITION AND HIERARCHY OF WOMEN’S COUNCILS AND WOMEN’S COMMITTEES.

5. Establishment of women’s councils.

(1) There is established in each district the following women’s councils—

(a) village women’s councils;

(b) parish or ward women’s councils;

(d) …

(e) district women’s councils.

(2) A District Women’s Council shall be a body corporate and may sue or be sued in its corporate name and shall carry out any other activities carried out by a body corporate.

6. Composition and hierarchy of women’s councils.

(1) A village women’s council shall consist of women who reside in the village and are willing to be members of the village council.

(1a) Without prejudice to subsection (1), woman who is not a citizen of Uganda shall not be a member of a village women’s council.

(1b) The decisions of a village women’s council shall be binding on all the women in a village.

(2) A parish or ward women’s council shall consist of all the members of the village women’s committees in the parish or ward.

(3) A subcounty or division women’s council shall consist of—

(a) all the members of the Parish or Ward Women’s Executive Committees;

(b) a representative of women with disabilities elected from among the disabled women in the subcounty or division through their structures;

(d) two women representatives of non-governmental organisations or community based organisations involved in women’s affairs or business, registered and recognised by the subcounty or division to be determined by the subcounty or division women’s council;

(e) the officer responsible for gender and women advancement in the subcounty or division;

(f) the subcounty or division women representative in the district local council; and

(g) secretary for gender in the subcounty or division local council.

(3A) The members of the Council in paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) shall be ex officio members who shall just participate in the deliberations of the Council without a deciding vote.

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(4) …

(5) A District Women’s Council shall consist of—

(a) the Chairpersons of the subcounty, Division or Town Women’s Councils;

(b) a representative of women with disabilities elected from among disabled women in the District through their structures;

(d) two women representatives of non-governmental or community based organisations involved in women’s affairs or business, which are registered and recognised by the district, to be determined by the District Women’s Council;

(e) the officer responsible for gender and women advancement at the district;

(f) the District Woman Representative in Parliament;

(g) the secretary in charge of gender in the District Local Council; and

(h) the head of the Secretariat of the District Women’s Council.

(6) The members of the Council in paragraph (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) of subsection (5) shall be ex officio members who shall just participate in the deliberations of the Council without a deciding vote.

6A. Electoral Commission to maintain voters register.

The Electoral Commission shall—

(a) by statutory instrument designate a period for registering women who want to participate in the women council elections at all levels;

(b) compile, maintain, revise and update the voters register for women’s councils at the village level; and

6B. Electoral Commission to settle election disputes.

The powers of the Electoral Commission to settle disputes provided in section 15 of the Electoral Commission Act shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to women council elections.

7. Establishment and composition of women’s committees.

(1) There is established in respect of each women’s council, a women’s committee, which shall consist of the following—

(a) a chairperson;

(b) a vice chairperson;

(d) a publicity secretary;

(e) a secretary for finance;

(f) in the case of the District and subcounty or Division Women’s Council Committee—

(i) women members of Parliament in the case of district women’s committee;

(ii) the subcounty or division women representative in the district local council at the subcounty Council;

(iii) the officer responsible for gender and women advancement at the district or subcounty as the case may be;

(iv) the representative of women with disabilities in the council elected under section 7;

(v) secretary for female youth on the District and subcounty or division Youth Executive Committee as the case may be;

(vi) the two of the women representatives of the non-governmental organisations elected under section 7;

(vii) the Secretary in charge of gender in the District local council and subcounty or division local council;

(viii) the Executive Secretary of the District Women Council.

(2) The members of a Women’s committee referred to—

(a) in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of subsection (1) of this section, shall be elected by the members of the Women’s Council from among their number;

(b) in paragraph (f) are the ex officio members in the Council and shall just participate in the deliberations of the Committee without a deciding vote.

(2A) The Executive Secretary of the District Women’s Council shall be the secretary to the District Executive Committee.

(3) A person shall not be a member of more than one women’s committee.

(4) Where a person is elected to a higher women’s committee, her office in the lower women’s committee shall fall vacant, and another person shall be elected in her place.

7A. Sponsorship of candidates by political organisations or political parties.

Under the multi party political system, nomination of candidates may be made by a political organisation or a political party sponsoring a candidate or by a candidate standing for election as an independent candidate without being sponsored by a political party or political organisation.

7B. Election of women’s committees.

(1) Elections for the National Women’s Executive Committee and the district women’s committees shall be by secret ballot.

(2) Elections for the village, parish or ward, subcounty, division or town women’s committee shall be by the electorate lining up behind the candidates nominated for the office, their representatives, portraits or symbols.

8. National Women’s Executive Committee.

(1) There shall be a National Women’s Executive Committee which shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the council.

(2) The Executive Committee of the National Women’s Council shall be composed of the following—

(a) Chairperson;

(b) Vice Chairperson;

(d) Finance Secretary;

(e) the Secretary for Female Youth on the National Youth Council;

(f) two of the female representatives of non-governmental organisations in the Council elected under section 5;

(g) the representative of women with disabilities in the Council elected under section 5;

(h) the representative of the Ministry responsible for gender and women advancement;

(i) the Executive Secretary of the National Women’s Council.

(3) The members of the Executive Committee of the National Women’s Council referred to—

(a) in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of subsection (2) shall be elected by the members of the National Women’s Council from among their number and those officers shall be representatives of the four regions of Uganda;

(b) in paragraphs (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) are the ex officio members in the Council and shall just participate in the deliberations of the Committee without a deciding vote.

(4) The Executive Secretary of the National Women’s Council shall be the Secretary to the National Women’s Council Executive Committee.

PART IV
SECRETARIAT AND STAFF OF THE COUNCIL.

9. Secretariat.

(1) The council shall have a secretariat to assist it in carrying out its objects and functions under this Act.

(2) The secretariat shall be composed of a secretary and other staff of the council.

10. Appointment and tenure of office of the secretary.

(1) The Secretary shall be appointed by the Minister on the advice of the National Women’s Council in consultation with the Public Service Commission.

(2) The secretary shall be appointed from among persons who are qualified in management or administrative matters.

(3) Subject to this Act, the secretary shall hold office on a full-time basis and on such terms and conditions as are specified in the instrument of appointment.

(4) The secretary may resign her office, by writing under her hand, addressed to the Minister through the council.

(5) The Minister may, on the advice of the council, remove the secretary from office for inability to perform the functions of her office as a result of infirmity of body or mind or for misbehaviour or for any other cause.

(6) In the case of removal from office of the secretary under this section on the ground of inability to perform the functions of her office as a result of misbehaviour or any other cause, the secretary shall, before removal, be given an opportunity to be heard on the allegations made against her.

(7) The secretary shall not be removed from office under this section on the ground of inability to perform the functions of her office as a result of infirmity of body or mind unless the fact of such infirmity of body or mind has been proved and certified by at least two medical practitioners appointed by the director of medical services for that purpose.

11. Functions of the secretary.

(1) The secretary shall be the chief executive officer and also the accounting officer of the council.

(2) Subject to the general control of the council, the secretary shall—

(a) act as secretary at meetings of the council and record the minutes of the council at those meetings;

(b) be responsible for the implementation of the policy decisions of the council and for the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the council and control of the other staff of the council;

(3) Where the office of the secretary is vacant or where the secretary is unable to perform the functions of her office by reason of illness, absence or other reason, the council may designate an officer of the council qualified in terms of section 10 to perform those functions until the vacancy in that office is filled or until the secretary is able again to perform those functions.

12. Other staff of the council.

(1) The council shall employ such other staff as may be necessary for the proper and efficient discharge of the functions of the secretariat under this Act.

(2) The council shall regulate the manner of appointment, terms and conditions of service and the discipline of its staff appointed under this section.

(3) Public officers may be seconded to the service of the council or may otherwise give assistance to the council.

13. Remuneration of the secretary and other staff.

The council may pay to the secretary and other staff such remuneration and allowances as it deems fit and may grant pension or retirement benefits or gratuity to them at such rates as the Minister may, after consultation with the Minister responsible for finance, determine.

PART V
FINANCE.

14. Funds of the council.

(1) The funds and resources of the council shall consist of—

(a) such sums from the Consolidated Fund as may, from time to time, be appropriated by Parliament for the purpose of the council;

(b) any monies accruing to the council in the discharge of its functions under this Act; and

(2) All income and monies of the council shall be deposited to the credit of the council in a bank approved by the Minister and shall not be withdrawn except with the approval of and in a manner determined by the council.

14A. Funds of District and other councils.

(1) The funds and resources for the District and other lower Women Councils shall consist of—

(a) such sums as may be appropriated by Parliament for the purpose of the Women’s Councils through the Ministry responsible for gender and women advancement;

(b) any monies accruing to the relevant Women Council in the discharge of its functions under this Statute; and

(2) The monies appropriated under subsection (1) shall be decentralised and directly transferred to Districts for the benefit of the relevant Women Councils by the Treasury.

(3) All income and monies of a Council shall be deposited to the credit of the Council in a bank approved by the Minister and shall not be withdrawn except with the approval of and in a manner determined by the Women Council.

(4) The provisions of sections 16 to 21 shall apply to the district and other lower Women Councils.

15. Borrowing powers.

(1) The council may, with the prior approval of the Minister after consultation with the Minister responsible for finance, borrow by way of overdraft or otherwise from a banker or any other person, such sums as may be necessary for meeting the obligations of the council and for carrying out the objects and functions of the council.

(2) The council may, with the prior approval of the Minister for the purpose of any borrowing under subsection (1), charge any asset or property of the council with the repayment of any money so borrowed.

16. Estimates.

(1) The council shall, within three months before the end of each financial year, cause to be prepared and submitted to the Minister for submission to the Minister responsible for finance for his or her approval estimates of the income and expenditure of the council for the next ensuing year.

(2) No expenditure shall be made out of the funds of the council unless the expenditure has been approved by the Minister.

17. Financial year of the council.

The financial year of the council shall be, in respect of any accounting period, the period of 12 months ending on the 30th”> June.

18. Accounts.

(1) The council shall keep proper books of account of all its income and expenditure and proper records in relation to them.

(2) Subject to any directions given by the Minister responsible for finance, the council shall cause to be prepared in respect of each financial year, a statement of account which shall include a report on the performance of the council during the financial year comprising—

(a) a balance sheet, a statement of income and expenditure and a statement of surplus and deficit; and

(b) any other information in respect of the financial affairs of the council as the Minister responsible for finance may require.

19. Audit.

(1) The accounts of the council shall, in respect of each financial year, be audited by the Auditor General or by an auditor appointed by him or her.

(2) The council shall ensure that within four months after the expiry of each financial year a statement of account described in section 18 is submitted to the Auditor General for auditing.

(3) The Auditor General and any auditor appointed by him or her shall have access to all books of account, vouchers and other financial records of the council and be entitled to have any information and explanation required by him or her in relation to them as the Auditor General may think fit.

(4) The Auditor General shall, within two months after receipt of the statement of account under subsection (2), audit the accounts and deliver to the council a copy of the audited accounts of the council together with his or her report on them stating any matter which in his or her opinion should be brought to the attention of the Minister.

(5) The Auditor General shall also deliver to the Minister a copy of the audited accounts together with his or her report on them.

20. Investment of surplus funds of the council.

Any funds of the council not immediately required for any purpose under this Act shall be invested in such manner as the council may, with the approval of the Minister, after consultation with the Minister responsible for finance determine.

PART VI
GENERAL.

20A. District Women Council Secretariat.

(1) The District Women’s Council shall have a Secretariat to assist it in carrying out its functions under the Act.

(2) The Subcounty Women’s Council shall have a Secretariat to assist it in carrying out its functions under this Statute and the effective date for the provisions of this subsection shall be determined by the Minister.

21. Protection of members and staff from personal liability.

A member of the council or an employee of the council acting on its behalf shall not be personally liable for any act done by him or her in good faith for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

22. Annual reports.

The council shall, within three months after the end of each financial year, submit to the Minister a report on the activities of the council in respect of that financial year, and the report shall include its achievements during that financial year and its future plans.

23. Regulations.

(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the council, by statutory instrument, make regulations for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1) the Minister shall after consultation with the council, make regulations for the implementation of the provisions of this Act regarding election of members of the council.

(3) Without prejudice to subsection (1), the Minister may, prescribe as penalties for contravention of regulations made under that subsection—

(a) a fine not exceeding 72 currency points or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both;

(b) a daily fine not exceeding five currency points for each day on which the contravention continues; and

(c) disqualification for a period not exceeding five years from the date of the conviction from holding an office on a women’s committee or being a member of any women’s council other than a cell or village women’s council.

24. Application and amendment of the Schedule.

(1) The Schedule to this Act shall apply in relation to the seal of the council, tenure of office of the council, women’s councils and women’s committees and to any other matter set out in that Schedule.

(2) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, amend the Schedule to this Act.

25. Vesting of assets, liabilities and pending proceedings.

The Minister may, by statutory order, make provision for the vesting of assets, liabilities and pending proceedings falling under the National Council of Women Decree.

Schedule.

s. 24.

Seal, offices and meetings of the council and the committees.

1. Common seal of the council.

(1) The common seal of the council shall be such device as the council may determine and shall be kept in the custody of the secretary.

(2) The common seal shall, when affixed onto any document, be authenticated by the signatures of the chairperson and the secretary of the council.

(3) In the absence of the chairperson, the vice chairperson shall authenticate the seal in place of the chairperson; and in the absence of the secretary, the person performing the functions of the secretary shall authenticate in place of the secretary.

(4) The signatures of the chairperson, secretary or other members of the council under this paragraph shall be independent of the signing by any other person as witness.

(5) A contract or instrument which if entered into or executed by a person not being a body corporate would not be required to be under seal may be entered into or executed without seal on behalf of the council by the secretary or any other person authorised in that behalf by the council.

(6) Every document purporting to be—

(a) an instrument issued by the council and sealed with the common seal of the council, authenticated in the manner prescribed in this paragraph; or

(b) a contract or instrument entered into or executed under subparagraph (5) of this paragraph,

shall be received in evidence without further proof as an instrument duly issued or contract or instrument duly entered into or executed unless the contrary is proved.

2. Tenure of office of women’s councils and committees.

(1) Subject to this Act, every women’s council and women’s committee shall remain in office for four years from the date of its inception, after which it shall automatically lapse and dissolve.

(2) A member of a women’s committee vacating office at the end of her term shall, subject to this Act, be eligible for reelection.

3. Vacation of office of a member of a women’s council or women’s committee.

Except for a village women’s council, the seat of a member of a women’s council or a women’s committee shall fall vacant if—

(a) the member resigns from the women’s council;

(b) without reasonable cause or the permission of the chairperson, the member fails to attend two consecutive meetings of the council;

(d) the member has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude within the preceding six years;

(e) circumstances arise which disqualify a member from membership under any other law.

4. Removal of member of women’s council or women’s committee.

Except for a village women’s council, a women’s council or women’s committee may remove from office any member of that council or of the women’s committee of that council on any of the following grounds—

(a) inability to perform the functions of her office, arising out of infirmity of body or mind;

(b) habitual drunkenness;

(d) a vote of no confidence passed by a two-thirds majority of the members.

5. Filling of vacancies on councils and committees.

Except for the National Women’s Council and the National Women’s Executive Committee, where a position falls vacant on a Women’s Council or Women’s Committee, the next higher Women’s Council shall, within 30 days after the position falls vacant, supervise elections and fill the vacancy and the Chairperson of that next higher Council shall notify the Electoral Commission of the results.

5A. Voting of member of Parliament.

Except at the village and parish levels where the Chairperson of the Women Council is the secretary for women in the local council, no person shall hold an office in the Women’s Councils together with an office of the local council, both of which entitle her to participate in the voting of a District woman member of Parliament.

6. Meetings of the council.

(1) The council shall meet at such times and places as the chairperson may determine, but it shall meet at least once in each year.

(2) The chairperson shall also convene a meeting of the council if requested to do so in writing by not less than one-third of the members of the council.

(3) The chairperson shall preside at each meeting of the council; and in her absence, the vice chairperson shall preside.

(4) In the absence of both the chairperson and vice chairperson, a member of the council elected by the members present shall preside.

(5) The quorum at any meeting of the council shall be one-third of the members of the council, and the quorum shall be maintained throughout the meeting.

(6) Any matter coming for determination by the council at any meeting shall be determined by a general consensus, but where a consensus cannot be reached, the matter shall be determined by a simple majority of the members present and voting; but in the event of an equality of votes, the chairperson or other person presiding at the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

(7) The council may co-opt any person who is not a member to attend any of its meetings as an adviser or consultant, and that person may participate in the deliberations at the meetings on any matter in relation to which advice is sought but shall not have the right to vote on any matter coming for decision before the meeting.

(8) Subject to this paragraph, the council may regulate the procedure of its membership and any other matter relating to its meetings and may in particular prescribe the period of notice to be given in respect of any such meeting.

(9) Minutes of every meeting of the council shall be recorded in writing and shall be presented to and approved by the council at its next subsequent meeting and signed by the person presiding at the latter meeting and the secretary.

7. Meetings of women’s councils.

(1) The district women’s council shall meet for the discharge of its functions under this Act at least once in every six months, at such time and place as the chairperson of the district women’s council may determine.

(2) The chairperson of the district women’s council shall also convene a special meeting—

(a) upon the request in writing of not less than one-third of the members of the district women’s council;

(b) whenever she considers it necessary to do so.

(3) A women’s council other than a district women’s council shall meet for the discharge of its functions under this Act at least once in every three months, at such time and place as its chairperson may determine.

(4) The chairperson of a women’s council referred to in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph shall also convene a special meeting—

(a) upon the request in writing of not less than one-third of the members of that council;

(b) whenever she considers it necessary to do so.

(5) A notice calling a meeting, together with the agenda for that meeting, shall be circulated to each member of the women’s council at least 14 days before the date of the meeting.

(6) The chairperson of a women’s council shall preside at every meeting of the women’s council, and in her absence the vice chairperson shall preside.

(7) In the absence of both the chairperson and the vice chairperson at a meeting of a women’s council, a member elected by the members present shall preside.

(8) One-third of the members of the women’s council shall form a quorum at any of its meetings, and that quorum shall be maintained throughout the meeting.

(9) Any matter coming for determination at a meeting of a women’s council shall be determined by general consensus, but where a consensus cannot be reached, the matter shall be determined by a simple majority of the members present and voting; but in the event of an equality of votes, the chairperson or other person presiding at the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

(10) A women’s council may co-opt any person who is not a member to attend any of its meetings as an adviser or consultant, and that person may participate in the deliberations at the meeting on any matter in relation to which advice is sought but shall not have the right to vote on any matter coming for decision before the meeting.

(11) Subject to this Schedule, a women’s council may regulate its own proceedings.

8. Minutes of meetings of a women’s council.

(1) The minutes of every meeting of a district women’s council shall be kept.

(2) The minutes of every meeting of a women’s council shall be kept, and copies of the minutes shall be sent to the chairperson of the women’s council immediately higher.

(3) The minutes of the meetings of a district women’s council required to be kept by this paragraph shall be in English and shall be open to inspection during normal office hours by members of the public.

(4) The minutes of the meetings of a women’s council other than a district women’s council required to be kept under this paragraph shall be kept in a language to be decided upon by each women’s council and shall be open to inspection during normal office hours by members of the public.

9. Meetings of a women’s committee.

(1) A Women’s Committee shall meet for the discharge of its duties at least once every month at such time and place as the Chairperson of the Committee may direct; except that the National Executive Committee shall meet once in every three months.

(2) Notice calling a meeting, together with the agenda for that meeting, shall be circulated to each member of the women’s committee, at least seven days before the date of the meeting.

(3) The chairperson of a women’s committee shall preside at every meeting of the women’s committee; and in her absence, the vice chairperson shall preside.

(4) In the absence of both the chairperson and vice chairperson at a meeting of a women’s committee, a member of the women’s committee elected by the members present shall preside.

(5) The quorum at a meeting of a women’s committee shall be three members.

(6) A women’s committee may co-opt any person who is not a member to attend any of its meetings as an adviser or consultant, and that person may speak at the meeting on any matter in relation to which advice is sought but shall not have the right to vote on any matter coming for decision before the meeting.

(7) Subject to this Schedule, a women’s committee may regulate its own proceedings.

10. Minutes of meetings of a women’s committee.

Paragraph 8 of this Schedule regarding the keeping of minutes of a women’s council shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to the keeping of minutes of a women’s committee meeting.

11. Service of documents.

Without prejudice to any other written law, a notice or document required to be served on the council may be served by leaving it at the office of the secretary or by sending it by prepaid registered post to the secretary.

*History*
Legislation	Number
Statute	3/1993
S.I.	87/2000
Act	19/2002
Act	10/2010
Act	17/2015

Cross References

Local Governments Act, Cap. 243.

National Council of Women Decree, Decree 3/1978.

Nongovernmental Organisations Registration Act, Cap. 113.

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