Specioza Kazibwe Quotes

I suppose it was that day that convinced me I should enter politics and speak out against the violence that was so prevalent in our society.

People often believed my life was perfect—I had a husband, a successful career, financial stability, and my children were excelling in school and university. But behind that image, I was deeply unhappy in my marriage due to the abuse. I reached a point where I could no longer live the life others expected of me. I chose to break my silence and speak out about the reality of what I was going through.

I am deeply honored and excited to assume this new and challenging role at such a critical time in the fight against AIDS.

Even male ministers and MPs have started approaching me to discuss the challenges they face in their homes.

I’ve been accused of having an affair with the president, among other things. They claim I only have my job because I’m a woman. Men try to bully me the same way they bully their wives, but I won’t tolerate it. It's clear they can't imagine women serving any purpose beyond sex, but I make sure to remind them that we have brains too.

As a matter of policy, we sometimes get caught up in one thing or another and allow the government to take the lead, thinking that the smartest people are in government. The truth is, most of the smartest people don’t go into government.

"The position is constitutional and not something that can be appointed or dismissed on a whim. I am still the Vice President, and I will be for a long time. I am still with you, and you better take note of that.

The young and vibrant NRM government boasted that any girl or woman in Uganda could become anything they wanted in the world.

I don't care whether I said people's socks stink. They said this woman talks about nothing. It is something. Cleanliness is next to godliness. The devil is in the detail. Who doesn't know that men don't like to bath? It's a fact,"

I'm telling you this because I've been there, and perhaps I left because I'm one of the few smart ones. I was lacking the right company.

When I was Vice President, I told the president that this was impossible. So, we asked some headteachers and teachers from these 'Four schools' to take the same exams, and they failed. How could they have been teaching students who scored Four if they themselves couldn't pass?

"Let’s move away from the pollution that’s making us sick and seek fresh air, so we can become the eyes and ears of the government in the villages. I’m grateful to see that, at this stage of my life, after retiring, the government is supporting my travel to continue my work. I thank the president, who appointed me as his Vice three times, allowing me the opportunity to serve this country." Such gestures encourage other leaders to serve the government with dedication and integrity.

It is widely acknowledged that gender-based violence rates are high in Uganda. What concerns us even more is that the recognition of this issue as a problem is not very widespread.

My hope is that others will find the courage to stand up against the violence that exists in so many of our homes, yet remains so rarely acknowledged.

Why should I stay with a man who beats me? I told him, 'How can you beat a vice president?'