WOMEN’S AGENDA HAS TRANSITIONED FROM GRASS ROOT ACTIVISM TO INSTITUTIONALISED MOVEMENT

By Hon Betty Among Minister of Gender

Reflecting on the past, strengthening the present and shaping the future of women’s agenda in Uganda ladies and gentlemen, and most importantly, the resilient women of Uganda today we stand on the precipice of change. The women's agenda in Uganda has powerfully transitioned from grassroots activism for basic rights to a robust, institutionalized movement dedicated to achieving substantive equality. In the last 30 years, we have made incredible strides in political representation and legal frameworks, but I tell you today, our work is not done! We must focus on bridging the gap between policy and practice—especially as it relates to economic empowerment, digital inclusion, and eradicating gender-based violence.

At the heart of our movement lies a simple yet profound truth: education and economic empowerment are the twin engines driving women's liberation and equality. These forces generate intergenerational benefits for women, their families, and entire communities. When women thrive, nations thrive! To put it plainly, if women had the same lifetime earnings as their male counterparts, global wealth could skyrocket by a staggering $160 trillion—an average of $23,620 per person! This is not just a statistic; it’s a clarion call to action!

In the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, we are laser-focused on the key fundamental drivers that will enable women and girls to achieve true freedom and empowerment. Together with our partners across MDAs, civil society organizations, and the private sector, we are making real changes.

Economic empowerment is paramount! When we invest in programs that eradicate poverty and uplift women, we dismantle systemic and structural barriers that perpetuate inequality. Economically independent women can challenge discrimination and protect the next generation from injustice!

The Economic Imperative is clear! When women thrive, economies thrive! Research tells us that closing gender gaps in the workforce could add an astonishing $15 trillion to global GDP by 2030. If we invest in women’s economic empowerment and leadership, we stand to boost our global economy by nearly $1 trillion! Why? Because women reinvest up to 90% of their income back into their families and communities, generating a powerful cycle of growth and development. In fact, investing in green jobs for women alone could create 24 million new jobs by 2030, paving the way for sustainable progress and a bright future!

Let me share some powerful achievements in women's economic empowerment:

 World-Leading Entrepreneurship: Uganda ranks among the top eight nations for women owning or managing new businesses, making up 40% of business owners and tripling our representation as paid employees since 2002! Our women control 39% of Ugandan firms!

 Dominance in Key Sectors: Women are the backbone of Uganda's economic growth, particularly in agriculture, which constitutes 24% of our GDP and roughly 40% of our export earnings!

 Financial Inclusion Progress vs. Usage Gap: While 65% of women now own a bank account or use mobile money—up from just 15% in 2011—too many still rely on informal savings groups. This is where we must focus our efforts!

 Targeted Government Funding: The Parish Development Model (PDM) reserves over 50% of its funds specifically for women, aiming to transition them into the money economy. And we have seen results—50% of PDM beneficiaries are women!

Applauding the Bank of Uganda for their commitment to enhancing the impact of women on the economy, we recognize their strategic steps, such as the Women Entrepreneurs (WE) Finance Code, data-driven lending, and a focus on gender-sensitive services—these are the building blocks of change!

POLITICAL REPRESENTATION

Let us not forget the strides we've made in political representation! Women’s parliamentary representation has surged from 17.4% in 1995 to approximately 34% today! This is no small feat! We have women in high positions—Vice President, Speaker, Prime Minister—and 40% representation in parliamentary committees!

• The Constitutional Reforms of 1995 set the groundwork for affirmative action, reserving seats for women in local councils and Parliament.

• We have continually increased female representation, reaching about 34-35% today. This representation matters! It shapes policy and influences change!

• Our Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) has successfully pushed landmark legislation—protecting women’s rights and enhancing their status across various sectors.

EDUCATION

Let’s talk about education—the cornerstone of our empowerment journey. Uganda has made strides toward gender parity in education! We have witnessed greater female literacy—climbing from 45% in 1991 to 68% in 2014! Yet, we cannot stop here!

According to the Global Gender Gap Report, while we rank #1 in primary education enrollment, we drop to #127 in secondary! This cannot continue! We must ensure that girls don’t fall out of school after their teenage years, often due to cultural pressures and labor demands at home!

• Primary Education Parity is within our grasp—a massive shift from the past, and we won’t allow it to slip away!

• Our targeted interventions have begun to reduce dropout rates. We must nurture that progress!

HEALTH

Our health outcomes for women and girls are encouraging, yet we still face serious challenges. The maternal mortality rate has dramatically dropped from 336 to 189 deaths per 100,000 live births. And we aim to keep that momentum going!

Key achievements include:

 99% of pregnant women receiving antenatal care—a crucial step in improving maternal health.

 Family Planning initiatives have reached over 1.2 million people, empowering them with the knowledge they need.

WATER AND ENVIRONMENT

Let us not underestimate the transformative power of water access and environmental initiatives! Uganda has made tremendous strides in empowering women through innovations focused on reducing labor, improving health, and fostering economic independence!

 Improved Water Access & Time Savings: Over 250,000 women have benefited from safe water projects, cutting down the collection time by nearly 4 hours each week—a significant time that can now be spent on income-generating activities!

 Climate Change Resilience & Leadership: Women have stepped into leadership roles in environmental conservation, managing resources and participating actively in policy planning.

 Education and Health: By reducing the burdens associated with water collection, we are seeing increased school attendance for girls. Our introduction of energy-efficient cookstoves is improving health by reducing indoor air pollution.

ENERGY

In tandem with our water initiatives, Uganda is harnessing the energy sector to empower women and girls:

• Enhanced Access to Clean Energy Technologies: Over 34,000 energy-saving stoves have dramatically reduced deforestation and health hazards related to smoke exposure.

• Solar Initiatives: Thousands of women now have access to solar energy for lighting and irrigation, powering their entrepreneurial endeavors!

• Solar Backpacks: Our "Girls with Tools" program, distributing solar-powered backpacks, allows girls to study at night and charge their devices—this innovation is setting the stage for academic success!

LAND AND AGRICULTURE

And we must highlight the critical role of land and agriculture in empowering women!

o Land Tenure Security: Initiatives by the Food and Agriculture Organization and local partners are helping women obtain customary land certificates, giving them legal security and the ability to access credit for investment.

o Legal Protections: The Land Act mandates spousal consent for land transactions, protecting family land and ensuring women's voices are heard in ownership decisions.

o Agricultural Productivity: Over 250,000 women farmers have enhanced their incomes through value-chain production and marketing, improving household nutrition and well-being.

o Agribusiness and Cooperatives: Programs have enabled women to form cooperatives, gaining better market prices and reducing costs through collective action and mechanization.

o Technical Training: Through capacity-building initiatives, women are gaining the skills needed to thrive in agribusiness and lead in agricultural innovation!

CULTURAL REFORMS

Let us also shine a light on our efforts to combat negative cultural norms that have historically subjugated women’s status. We are steadfast in our commitment to changing these outdated beliefs and practices that limit women's potential and participation in society.

 Legal Frameworks and Policies: We have instituted laws to counteract harmful practices, such as domestic violence, female genital mutilation, and restrictive inheritance practices, reshaping the narratives around women’s rights.

 Community Engagement: Through partnerships with cultural leaders, we are actively promoting dialogue and education about gender equality, empowering communities to challenge and discard harmful traditions that keep women in subservient roles.

 Public Awareness Campaigns: Our initiatives aim to shift public perceptions and promote the understanding that women’s empowerment leads to community advancement—showing that equality is not just a women's issue but a fundamental human right!

The Cost of Inaction

But let me be blunt—despite our achievements, we face a daunting $360 billion annual deficit in spending on gender equality measures! We cannot afford to ignore this! Every moment we delay is a disservice to the millions of women living in extreme poverty!

A Call for Scaled-Up Action

We must elevate our efforts beyond tokenism:

• Invest in Care Systems! We need to transform the care economy and unlock the potential of women to participate fully in the workforce.

• Invest in Digital and Financial Inclusion! Bridging the digital divide is paramount to empowering women economically!

• Invest in Education for Girls! Education is a gateway to empowerment! An extra year of schooling can increase a woman’s wages by 10 to 20 percent!

CONCLUSION

Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot wait another 200 years! The time for action is NOW!

Shaping the Future: The 2026–2030 Agenda

The National Women's Manifesto (2026–2030), titled "Her Voice," challenges us to reflect on our commitments and take real action. We aim for 50/50 gender parity in political representation and enhanced leadership opportunities at local levels. We will scale up investments to accelerate access to justice for all women and girls!

As we move forward, let us stop treating gender equality as a secondary concern. Let us commit to making it the central issue for a stable, prosperous, and sustainable future.

Investing in women and girls is investing in a healthier planet, a stronger economy, and a more just world for all humanity.

Let’s join hands and make this vision a reality!

Thank you.