By Ben MusanjeNational Women Council chairperson aspirant Irene Adokorach has called on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretariat and the Electoral Commission (EC) to release delegates and give all candidates equal access to them ahead of the national Women Council elections.Adokorach claims some delegates are being kept away from candidates, with some phones allegedly switched off, making it difficult for aspirants to meet voters, explain their manifestos and compete on an equal footing.She said denying candidates access to delegates undermines the credibility of the electoral process and prevents women from making informed decisions about who should lead the national women’s structure.“How are you going to put a manifesto where all the delegates are kept? Why should we keep delegates? And yet this is an opportunity where every woman should come out. You say your manifesto, that as someone who is contesting at the national level, I have this package for you,” Adokorach said.Adokorach appealed to the NRM Secretariat to ensure delegates are accessible to every candidate if the party is organising the primary elections.She also challenged the Electoral Commission to clarify and enforce the rules governing access to delegates, saying the commission had previously stated that no contestant should be allowed to keep delegates.“The Electoral Commission made a statement that there is no contestant who is allowed to keep the delegates. We call upon the Electoral Commission to give a statement. Women should be released so that we are given an opportunity to present our manifestos before the women,” she said.For Adokorach, the issue goes beyond her own campaign. She said the Women Council should be a platform where women from across Uganda can freely engage candidates, scrutinise their programmes and choose leaders based on their ideas and competence.“National Women Council is a platform for every woman. This is the platform where we come out and we speak to ourselves,” she said.The aspirant, who hails from northern Uganda and is an Acholi, said she entered the race because she believes the council can do more to address the everyday challenges facing ordinary women, particularly those in rural communities.She said women’s empowerment should not remain concentrated in urban centres, arguing that national programmes must deliberately reach women in villages and underserved communities.“Uganda as a country has been talking about empowering the women. But which type of a woman are we going to empower? Empowerment should not be talked about in urban settings. But let’s talk about that rural woman in Kiryandongo district, in Gulu, in Mbarara, everywhere,” she said.Adokorach said her campaign would therefore emphasise grassroots participation and local content, noting that even women living in urban areas maintain strong links with the villages and communities where they originate.She also warned against turning leadership contests into a competition of financial muscle, saying women with strong ideas but limited resources risk being pushed out of elective politics.“Politics has come to a level that if you don’t have the money, you don’t go through. But why should we put money ahead of everything we are doing?” she asked.Adokorach said candidates should instead be judged on their competence, ideas, leadership record and ability to listen to the concerns of women.She said the absence of wealthy political sponsors should not prevent women from presenting themselves for leadership.“Some of us do not have what we call godfathers. But then, if I don’t have a godfather, should I not show my interest? Should I not really be given a platform to talk to the women? We are saying no,” she said.She further appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to listen to the concerns of women candidates and ensure that the electoral ground is level for all aspirants.“Look at the women, look at us. We are crying before you that the ground should be levelled to each and every woman,” she said.Adokorach said a fair contest was necessary for delegates to properly assess what each candidate is offering.“As we talk now, how will you get to know about Irene’s manifesto if someone is hiding?” she asked.She congratulated women who emerged victorious in the district-level elections and encouraged those who lost not to view defeat as the end of their political careers.“I know it has not been something simple. The way we’ve always been taking politics, the narrative has changed. Women Council used to be something very simple, but from the experience that we’ve gone through, it has not been easy,” she said.Adokorach also commended the outgoing Women Council leadership for raising the profile of the council and establishing it as a recognised platform for women across Uganda.She used the occasion to appreciate Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, whom she described as her boss, for giving her opportunities to participate in NRM mobilisation activities across the country.“I want to thank you, my boss. You’ve given me a platform always. I have mobilised the country to support NRM party. You’ve given us the skills and we’ll always appreciate you,” she said.Adokorach urged women delegates to look beyond money and political sponsorship when choosing their next national leader, arguing that competence and the ability to deliver for women should take precedence.“Whether with money or without money, we are there,” she said.She concluded by urging delegates to consider her candidacy, presenting herself as a candidate with a programme focused on strengthening the Women Council and giving greater attention to women at the grassroots.“Irene is the best candidate. Irene is this woman who has something on table to share with you,” she said.Adokorach’s campaign comes as competition for the National Women Council chairperson position intensifies, with several contenders seeking to lead the country’s national women’s structure. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).