There is a steady growth of discourse on men and masculinities globally and Africa in particular. In scholarship, masculinities – social practices and cultural representations associated with being a man – have been conceptualised as diverse, culturaly constructed, multiple, changeable and historically contingent. In the field of political engagement, the role of men in gender equality policy decision making is gaining currency. Despite these advances, there is a feeling that masculinities and gender equality work is devoid of meaningful transformation.There is growing evidence of gender binaries being deeply entrenched by the day, a sense of stagnation, backlash and continued ambiguities about the question of men in gender and politics. On the one hand, men’s presence in gender conversations is scritinised as though gender was synonymous with femininity, while on the other, are growing calls on mandatory male participation in gender equality to ensure meaningful gender transformation. Global development actors’ insistance that gender equality programmes and initiatives must involve the participation of men, to the extent, in some cases, of calling for men and boys to empower women and girls is not new. Equally, questions on what men can possibly contribute to and benefit from gender equitable governance - human rights, peace and democracy - continue to pervade gender debates. even when there is acknowldgement that masculinities are gendered subjectivities, always in a state of flux. In this paper, I use Uganda as a case study and draw on interviews with women gender activists in and outside Parliament and some male parliamentarians to explore the role of men in promoting gender equity policy making process. The paper specifically engages with concerns on whether gender inequalities are challenged or institutionalised through working with men to speak to gender equity reforms and the implications the strategy has for gender.
