The Uganda constitution provides for equality between women and men and for affirmative action. The entire chapter four of the constitution is devoted to protection of fundamental and other human rights and freedoms. There are specific provisions that relate to gender. The national objective and directive principles of State Policy number XV states that: “the state shall recognize the significant role that women play in society.”

Article 21 (2) states that: “a person shall not be discriminated against on the ground of sex...”
Article 32 (1) states that: “... the state shall take affirmative action in favor of groups marginalized on the basis of gender, ... or any other reason created by history, tradition or custom, for the purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them.”
Article 33 (1-5) provides for :

• women’s full and equal dignity with men;
• State provisioning to enhance the welfare of women and to enable them realize their full potential;
• state protection of women and their rights, taking into account their unique status and natural maternal functions in society;
• equal treatment with men, and equal opportunities in political, economic and social activities;
• Right to AA for redressing imbalances created by history, tradition or custom;
• Prohibits laws, cultures, customs or traditions which are against the dignity, welfare or interest of women or which undermine their status, are prohibited ...”

Uganda also ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1985 without any reservations (Ellis et al 2006).

Government approved the first National Gender Policy (NGP) in 1997 and issued a second one in 2007 along with The National Plan of Action on Women 2007 following the National Equal Opportunities Policy 2006. The NGP recommends gender mainstreaming as a strategy for addressing gender imbalances.

Like for many developing nations, and in line with international neo-liberal economic thinking, Uganda’s ICT policy emphasizes private sector led growth.
Section 2.3 shows that the policy rationale is to “stimulate industrial growth, commerce, infrastructure and linkage of rural and urban communities as well as uplifting of disadvantaged groups, while taking care of gender balance”.
In line with the NGP, objective 4.2(x) aims “to ensure gender mainstreaming in information and communication programmes and in ICT development.”

Under strategies, the policy pledges to “ensure that facilities for communication are provided at levels of cost, which match the ability of their users to pay, so as to reduce gender and spatial disparities in information access.” Strategies for gender mainstreaming are also listed.

The RCDP 2001 is totally gender blind. The revised RCDP, 2009 has gender provisions.

The currently proposed Cyber Crime laws say almost nothing on gender issues. Only the Electronic Signatures Bill has one direct reference to females in section 86 (4), “a female person shall not be searched under this section except by another female person.” A related aspect is Section 20(1-3) in the Computer Misuse Bill, 2008 which criminalizes child pornography but pays no attention to adult pornography.
 

Source; Issues Brief on ICT and Violence Against Women in Uganda. Women of Uganda Network.