Researchjournali s Journal of Sociology

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1 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN Women s Involvement And Their Civic And Political Responsibility Among The Batwa Ethnic Minority Group In Kanungu District South Western Uganda Dr. Martha Kibukamusoke

2 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN ABSTRACT The Batwa have struggled for political, social and economic independence in Kanungu district. Through a study to find out women s involvement in governance at local level, quota and judgemental sampling techniques as well as focus group discussions and interviews were used to identify respondents and collect data. Strategies for inclusive participation and political independence are needed. Key Words: Women, Governance, Political Participation, Civic Responsibility 1. INTRODUCTION Since late 1960s till to date, the Batwa ethnic minority group have been forcibly expelled from their habitat declaring them as game reserves and national parks. This has been done in a consortium of international conservation groups and national governments. Leaving them homeless, the Batwa took up a marginalized status on the periphery of local communities. Given the fact that they are farmers, the Batwa have cultivated on the lands of the community for survival. It is also a social taboo to share food, occupy the same bench and socialize with Batwa in public spaces. While other citizens are issued birth certificates and identity cards free of charge, Batwa must undergo an involved bureaucratic process. Without these cards, it is difficult to enrol in schools and receive government-funded health care, which are otherwise guaranteed to other vulnerable people in the country. The challenges the Batwa have faced over the years have isolated them and not enabled them to freely exercise their political, social and economic rights. The overall objective of the study was to establish the level of knowledge and participation of Batwa women in civic and political rights issues in Kanungu district. To this effect, a baseline study was carried out to find out the status the Batwa are, in terms of the women s involvement in governance at local level in Kanungu District in Kinkizi County, Kayonza Sub County in the villages of Kayunza, Karehe and Buhoma. The main target group for the study was the Batwa men, women and local council leaders. A total of 44 respondents took part in the study, 25 of who were from Karehe and 13 from Buhoma. Six (6) were local council leaders, four (4) male, two (2) female were reached by the study all of who were above 18 years. Quota sampling was used for the women and men where they were segmented into groups of sex, age (above 18 years) and selected through judgement. The judgemental or purposive sampling technique was also applied to obtain realistically representative samples of targeted respondents for the study respectively. Focus group discussions as well as interviews were used to collect data from the respondents. The questionnaires as a data collection tool had both open ended and closed ended questions. The focus group discussion guide was also used.

3 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN The study found that although the Batwa are aware of that they can vote and stand for political positions; they are very illiterate about their civic and political rights. The Batwa do not understand their civic rights and freedoms thus causing their limited participation in political activities. Through focus group discussions with the surrounding community members, the study found out that, there is a misconception and ill perception of the Batwa as savage, wild, uncivilized and ignorant. This perception has seemingly legitimized their exclusion from mainstream society and left them with little support from the outside resources in their current state of forced displacement. The study recommendations include a necessity to enrol more Batwa in primary education for the school going age children and enrol the adults in the free technical education called skilling Uganda under the new 10 year government programme that the government of Uganda has began to implement. There is therefore need to employ innovative strategies to dispel the misperception/rights violation of the minority Batwa and eventual full recognition and respect for Batwa rights and inclusive participation in both national and local governance for true democracy, social transformation and economic independence. 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY In order to protect and promote the rights of the Batwa community, interventions to promote their socioeconomic and political involvement are needed. However to facilitate the design and implementation of effective interventions it is important to properly understand the current socio-economic characteristics and political involvement of the Batwa. The current total Batwa population is estimated to be between 82,000 and 126,000 (Wikipedia, 2011) spread across countries worldwide. In Uganda, the Twa population is estimated to be approximately 6,705 in number. In Kigezi, south western Uganda, the Batwa are estimated to be 3000 in number while in Bundibugyo, they were initially 90 in number but have reduced to 73 as per Kanungu district has an approximate population of 646 Batwa 315 of who are males and 331 females living in 158 households, (UNPO 2010). This group of people has suffered displacements and resettlement in different places and at different intervals which has created disgruntlement within the Batwa community. According to Wikipedia (2011) the resettlement patterns were as follows: Volcano National Park, Rwanda (resettled, 1970's s); Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda (resettled, 1970's s); Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda (evicted 1991); Mgahinga National Park, Uganda (evicted 1991); Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Congo (evicted); Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo (evicted); Gishwati Forest, Rwanda (evicted for forest plantation and dairy production, then as refugee lands), and Mfangano Island, Kenya (prehistoric only) (UNPO 2010) By 1991, pressure on the forests through deforestation increased and the Batwa were forced to look for work outside of the forests to survive. They worked as labourers for land owners and were at their mercy. The Batwa

4 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN were then forced out of Bwindi and Mgahinga forests without any compensation. They were not equipped with survival skills and could not resettle in their homes given on the outskirts of the forests. The 21 three roomed houses given by the EU did not have anything more than a saucepan and papyrus mats. The Batwa then sold off some of the iron sheets of their homes to try and make ends meet economically. The Batwa forest people then constantly struggled to acquire education, health care and security. They did not have a representative amongst themselves to represent them. Given their background of herb users, the Batwa do not want to seek medical care in hospitals, (New vision 2007). Because of little or no knowledge of HIV and AIDS, the Batwa believe it is got through the intermarriages of their women to people outside their clan. The Batwa women face a problem of being raped by the Bakonjo and giving them HIV/AIDS under the mentality that sleeping with a Batwa woman cures the disease, (UNOP 2006). Today, the Batwa are still facing the same problem where their rights and privileges as an ethnic minority group are not fully realised. The privileges include their rights to proper presentation and others. Today the Batwa continue to seek the right to be allowed to live their lives with the same rights as other Ugandans especially in political participation, (UNOP 2008). Since 1986, Uganda s political system had been shaped by the movement system of government subject to change by a referendum, (1995 Constitution). There have been only two referendums held since then. The first was held in 2000 and the second in 2005 which opened political space for Ugandans who voted for the return of the multiparty system. For the last 20 years, only two elections have been held under the multi-party system of governance. The first round of elections was held in 2006 and the other in Although the system is in place, many Ugandans especially the Batwa women do not clearly understand the multi-party political dispensation as well as the fact that its sense of shared vision and responsibilities not present. In addition, the multiparty dispensation is not present. Although Uganda follows a decentralisation policy, local council leaders are elected at village, parish, and sub county and district levels. The Local Government Act 2010 was enacted to align elections at these levels with the multiparty system where citizens of whatever ethnic minority women and youth should exercise their civic duties in participating in the political process at both local and national levels. 1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT Over the past 20 years Uganda has held only two national elections under the multi-party dispensation. The first election was held in 2006 and the other in The next one will be held in Women and youth among the Batwa minority group should have been able to exercise their civic duty and meaningfully participate in the political process for the 2011 national elections but did not. The reason behind the Batwa not participating was they did not have adequate information on their civic and political rights to enable them to exercise their political

5 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN and civic duties and rights. The ability of the Batwa women to vote is assumed to have enabled them to make decisions based on an informed perspective. Today, the Batwa in Kanungu district are still facing a problem of not having the same rights as other Ugandans especially in political participation, (UNOP 2008). This is alleged that there is not a clear understanding of the multi-party political dispensation system. Although the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has opened opportunities and given a platform for women and youth of minority groups and disabled persons to participate in politics, they need to be given more opportunities. It these opportunities are not provided, the Batwa women may not be able to acquire a sense of self confidence and self determination to fully participate and exercise their civic duties, (Karagwa 1992). They need to be fully represented by their own that is familiar with their cultural customs and norms and is able to air out views on an informed point of view. 1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The overall objective of the study was to establish the level of knowledge and participation of Batwa women in civic and political rights issues in Kanungu district. 1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The following were the specific objectives of the study To find out the level of knowledge of Batwa on the political process and civic responsibility in Kanungu District To find out the level of involvement, participation and representation of the Batwa on civic and political responsibilities in Kanungu district To examine the relationship between women s knowledge on, their involvement and participation in the political process and civic responsibilities. 1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS What is the level of knowledge of Batwa on the political process and civic responsibility in Kanungu District? What is the level of involvement, participation and representation of the Batwa on civic and political responsibilities in Kanungu district? What is the relationship between women s knowledge on, their involvement and participation in the political process and civic responsibilities?

6 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN METHODOLOGY 2.1 STUDY DESIGN The study was a descriptive and analytical type of research design. It identified the level of knowledge and participation of Batwa women in civic and political rights issues. The study investigated and compared the relationship between knowledge and level of participation in civic issues. This was mainly based of primary and secondary data sources. The main aim of using these types of research was to be able to investigate, understand and make practical recommendations about the study topic. The descriptive and analytical types of research were a measure of status rather than a form of prediction, which means that they only reported what, was on ground, (Stephen 1999). 2.2 STUDY APPROACH Qualitative research approach was adopted to describe and ensure an understanding of human behavior in a social and natural setting. The researcher was able to study, understand and learn the reasons why the Batwa behaved the way they do in terms of their level of involvement in civic and political issues. Quantitative research approach was also used to study a sample of the respondents. The characteristic of being able to statistically analyze, summarize and record data gave the researcher sound reason to use the quantitative research approach as well. 2.3 STUDY AREA The study was undertaken in Kinkizi County, Kayonza Sub County in the villages of Karehe and Buhoma of Kanungu district in Uganda. Kanungu district is located in south western Uganda. It is boarded by Rukungiri district to the North and East, Kabale district to the southern, Kisoro district to the south west and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the East. The district headquarters are located approximately 60 Kilometres by road, northwest of Kabale, (Wikipedia 2016). 2.4 POPULATION Kanungu district has a total population of 646 Batwa, 315 of who are male and 331 female living in 158 households. Most of them live in Karehe and Buhoma as shown in the table I below. The reason why the Karehe and Buhoma villages were chosen was they had the highest number of Batwa living in the district. The table also concentrates on the respondents above 18 years because the Constitution of Uganda permits only those above 18 years to involve themselves in civic and political issues. Table I: Number of Batwa above 18 years living in study area AREA MALE FEMALE TOTAL ABOVE 18 YEARS KAREHE BUHOMA TOTAL

7 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN Source Batwa data of Dec 2007 about Kisoro, Kabale, Kanungu, Katovu and Ntungamo by United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda. 2.5 SAMPLING SIZE AND METHOD At the time of the study, Kanungu district was chosen out of the other districts in which the Batwa live because it was easily accessible in terms of geographical location and infrastructure. Unlike many rural areas in Uganda, Kanungu s mode of communication is fairly good and one can easily access authorities if need be Kayonza sub county was chosen because it is the area in which most of the Batwa are easily accessible and highly concentrated. Quota sampling method was used to identify the Batwa men and women. The groups of respondents were segmented as per their sexual orientation, age (above 18 years) willing to participate in ensuring civic rights are realised at sub county, county and district levels. A total of 38 men and women were quantified to fit the need of the study. Purposive sampling was used to select Kanungu District and Kayonza Sub County because was easily accessible and expedient for the researcher, (Thomas 2003). 3. DATA COLLECTION To be able to collect data qualitatively, both primary and secondary data were collected for the study. Secondary data was collected through already written material which includes text books, journals and theses. To collect primary data for the study, a number of methods were used and they include focus group discussions and interviews with the respondents who are the Batwa ethnic minority group above 18 years of age. Data collection tools include questionnaires and the focus group discussion guide. 3.1 DATA COLLECTION METHODS Structured interviews were used to collect data from the local council leaders because it was easier for the researcher/interviewer to control the circumstance or context in which questions are asked. Focus group discussions were used to collect information from the respondents because they help the researcher have a deeper understanding and in-depth opinions of the respondents on the subject matter. 3.2 DATE COLLECTION TOOLS The data-collection tools used included questionnaires and a focus group discussion guide. The set questionnaires used had both open-ended and close-ended questions. The questionnaires were both structured and semi-structured, and were self-administered to the respondents to be filled out. 3.3 DATA ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT Data management involved collecting data using questionnaires, and verifying it to see if all respondents filled out and returned all the questionnaires. Data files were thereafter made and the data checked for accuracy and reliability. Files were also checked to see if the data was realistic with regard to the objectives of the study.

8 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN Data was analysed, then entered using the Epi-Data software, documented, and later exported to SPSS and Excel. 4. STUDY FINDINGS This was a descriptive and analytical type of study that employed an interview method to collect data from all the 38 adult members of the Batwa community who were above 18 years of age. An interview schedule/guide worded in English and consisting of a series of closed and open ended questions was used. The schedule comprised of three sections. The first section was the introductory in nature covering ethical issues including informed consent while the second covered the demographic aspect. The third section was used to elicit civic responsibility and political involvement of the respondents. 4.1 DATA COLLECTION The interview schedule was validated through a pre-test exercise/ pilot study involving eight (8) randomly selected adult members of the community. The enumerator read out the questions to the respondent on individual face to face basis and where necessary translated the questions into the local language for those who did not understand English. The responses provided by the respondents were filled into the schedule or questionnaire by the enumerator. 4.2 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Data was analyzed using SPSS version 18. The results are presented as median and range for quantitative variables and percentages or graphic presentations for categorical variables as shown below. 5. RESULTS 5.1 DEMOGRAPHICS Of the targeted 38 respondents, 35 were able to be interviewed giving a response rate of 94%. The median age was 35 years with a minimum and maximum of 23 and 58 years respectively. A total of 26 respondents were female and 12 male all of Batwa origin. 5.2 LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF THE RESPONDENTS Seventy percent (n=25) of the respondents had no formal education while 28% (n=10) had only primary education. Only one respondent had attained secondary education while none had attained university education. This shows that the level of education of the Batwa in the study area is quite low. 5.3 KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS

9 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN To assess the level of political involvement among the Batwa, the respondents were asked about their knowledge, awareness and participation in politics. The respondents were also assessed on awareness of their civic responsibility and political pluralism. Of the 35 who responded to this question, the vast majority (85.1%, n=30) indicated that political participation meant voting while only a small number (7.5%,3) indicated that such participation referred to attending political rallies. A total of 10% (4) said they did not understand at all what is meant by political participation. As shown in figure 1, none of the respondents mentioned the rest of the attributes such as voter registration, contesting for political office, and belonging to political a party. Figure 1: Participation in politics Regarding awareness of representatives at the various political levels, almost all the respondents indicated that they were aware, providing the following responses; 93.6% were aware of the existence of representatives at LC1 level, 91.5% at LC 11 level, 93.6% at LC 111 level, 87.2% at LC V level and 91.3% at Parliament respectively, n=35. Less than 50% of the respondents indicated that they were aware that Batwa women could be representatives at the various political levels, where 40.4% for LC I, 37.0% for LCII and LCIII respectively; 37.0% for LC V and 38.3% for Parliament respectively, n=35. About half of the respondents (46.8%, n=17) indicated that they did not have a Women s council at village level while 4.3 %( 2) did not know what a women s council is. Of those who indicated that there was a Women s council, only 4.3% (2) indicated that a Batwa member was occupying any seat in the council. A vast majority of the respondents (80.4%, n=29) were aware that there are certain requirements one needed to have to be elected as a political leader. Majority of these (86.4%, n=31) identified education level as one of the requirements for being voted into a political office at local council level. The responses are summarized in the table 2 below where a total n=35, response rate 87%.

10 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN Table 2: Requirement to be elected a political leader Requirement Frequency (n=35) Percentage (%) Level of education % Being known in the community 3 8.1% Having money 2 5.4% Less than half of the respondents (42%, n=15) thought that the Member of Parliament for the constituency represented the Batwa people. 5.4 INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS Individual participation in politics was assessed and the results are shown in table 3 below. Table 3: Individual participation in politics Political participation Frequency (n=35) Percentage (%) Voted in presidential elections Voted in parliamentary elections Voted in local council elections Denied to participate in political activity 2 4.3% Currently holding political office 2 4.3% Contested for political office 1 2.1% Table 4 below shows the reasons given for not contesting for political office. Table 4: Why Batwa do not contest for political office Reason Frequency (n=35) Percentage Not educated % Not able % Batwa are minority % Not interested 3 6.5% 5.5 POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND LEVELS OF CIVIC EDUCATION Taking a look at the two variables, and analysis using a regression model was conducted and the output below was revealed in Table 5 below. Multiple R R Square Adjusted R Square Standard Error Observations 4 df SS MS F Significa nce F Regression Residual Total Standard Lower Upper Lower Upper Coefficients t Stat P-value Error 95% 95% 95.0% 95.0% Intercept

11 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN X Variable The regression model of the variables is. This implies that the level of civic education on political matters has a positive impact on the Batwa s participation in political activities of the nation. Furthermore, for any one unit of civic education to the Batwa communities there is a 25% increase in the community participation in political activities at both national and local levels. A further test of the hypothesis at 5% level of significance reveals that Civic education has a significant contribution to the levels of community participation in the political activities. This was arrived at after looking at F significance value (0.049) as compared to P value (0.004). Since P < F, the null hypothesis was rejected and alternative accepted. Alternatively taking the t-test at 5% level of significance, and comparing the tabulated value (4.303) against the computed value (4.346), we further reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative. Thus conclude that, there is evidence that Batwa s level of civic education can greatly improve their level of participation in political activities of the country. Considering the value of R 2 implies that, over 90% of Batwa s participation in political activities is explained by the level of civic education to participate. 5.6 SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING PARTICIPATION POLITICAL ACTIVITIES To enhance individual participation in politics, the respondents suggested the following measures in order of frequency. A total of 15, (41%) Batwa needed more awareness rising to improve on their level of participation in politics, 12 (33%) Batwa suggested the provision of education and 10 (26%) wanted the possibility to abolish discrimination and marginalization of the Batwa. 5.7 AWARENESS OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND POLITICAL PLURALISM An overwhelming majority of the respondents (97.8, n=34) indicated that they were aware of at least one political party in Uganda and 90% admitted to have attended a political rally in the last four years. However a smaller percentage (69.6%) indicated that political parties were active in the Batwa community. Table 6 below summarizes the results. Table 6: Political pluralism and responsibility Civic aspect Frequency (n=35) Percentage (%) Aware of political party in Uganda Know the whereabouts of the polling station Ever attended political rally in the last 4 years? Political parties active in the Batwa community

12 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN CIVIC AWARENESS The respondents were asked to indicate whether they were aware of their civic rights and freedoms. Although 30.4% of the Batwa know that every Ugandan has a right to participate in affairs of the government, only 17.8% knew that minorities such as national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities have rights. The results are summarized in table 7 below. Table 7: Civic awareness Right/freedom Frequency (n=35) Percentage Every Ugandan has a right to participate in affairs of the % government Every adult has a right to participate in political % activities in the country Every Ugandan has equal protection before the law % Every Ugandan has equality and freedom from all forms % of discrimination Every Ugandan has freedom of thought, expression, % religion, movement, assembly and association Minorities such as national, ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities have rights as described above % 5.9 DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS The study has shown political constraints among the Batwa community. In particular low levels of education, social stigma and low levels of awareness of civic rights and freedoms, threaten to jeopardize the survival of the Batwa ethnic group. The low level of literacy among the Batwa was reflected by the 72% of the respondents who did not have any formal education, coupled with the fact that only one respondent had attained the ordinary level education and none attained advanced level or tertiary education. This low level of literacy is a strong impediment to political transformation. The low level of political awareness among the Batwa was reflected with the fact that the vast majority of the respondents (85.1%) related politics to voting only. Other aspects of politics such as voter registration, contesting for office, political party membership and holding political leaders accountable were hardly mentioned by the respondents. The findings of the study indicated that the Batwa are either not aware of being represented or do not have any representation at the various levels of political leadership which include LC 1, LC 11, LC 111 and LC V levels. This was reflected in the observation that although almost all the respondents knew that there were political representatives at the various levels, less than half were aware of a Batwa member occupying any of these positions. In addition, about half of the respondents indicated that they did not have a Women s council at village level.

13 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN The high feeling of political marginalization among the Batwa was reflected by the fact that a large percentage of the respondents (80.4%) knew the right requirements for holding a political office. However many of the respondents did not believe that they could meet these requirements and therefore did not contest for political office at any level. The study showed that the Batwa understand their civic obligations as indicated by the 97.8% of respondents who were aware of at least one political party in Uganda, 93.5% knew the whereabouts of the polling station and 86.9% had ever attended a political rally respectively. However the findings of the study show that only a small proportion of the Batwa understand their rights and freedoms as indicated by low percentage of respondents (less than 50%) who were aware and believed that they had these rights and freedoms. 6. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS This chapter discusses the conclusions found due to the data collected during the study and makes recommendations accordingly. There is a very low literacy rate among the Batwa that negatively affects their full participation in politics at all levels. There is very low political awareness and limited participation in political activities among the Batwa community. The Batwa community understands their civic obligations but does not understand their civil rights and freedoms. 6.1 RECOMMENDATIONS It is necessary to design strategies to improve enrolment of the Batwa for primary education which should include having schools where Batwa are majority. For the Batwa who are above school going age, the government should include them in the new 10 year government programme dubbed skilling Uganda where a Batwa with no education background has a chance to acquire skills that range from being an agriculturalist, wood mechanist to a florist. The Batwa should be provided with radios and bicycles to improve communication and promote political awareness and participation A sensitization project should be initiated to promote understanding of civic rights and obligations among the Batwa. Marginalization and discrimination of the Batwa by the neighbouring communities should be discouraged.

14 Vol. 4 No. 5 June 2016 ISSN REFERENCES Karagwa, B. W. Women in political struggle in Uganda, in women transforming politics: Worldwide strategies for empowerment, edited by M.J Bystydzienski (1992). National Development Plan Uganda (NDP) 2010/ /15 Stephen C. Jefferies. PEHL 557, Descriptive research (1999) accessed 22 February 2016 The Constitution of the republic of Uganda 1995 The local government Act Uganda 2010 The New Vision, Uganda s leading daily newspaper Thomas, M. Blending Qualitative and Quantitative research methods in thesis and dissertations (2003) Unrepresented Nations and People s organisation (UNPO). Batwa: Bundibugyo Leaders Ask Minister Migereko to Apologise to the Batwa Tribute July accessed 22 February 2016 Unrepresented Nations and People s organisation (UNPO). Batwa: Demand For More Government Aid August Unrepresented Nations and People s organisation (UNPO). Batwa: Dutchman on A Mission to Help a Forgotten People July accessed 22 February 2016 Wikipedia, Kanungu District accessed 22 February 2016