By Jumah Kakomo
The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) Party has issued a passionate plea to the government to develop and implement effective strategies for empowering women.
This comes with just a few days to commemorate International Women’s Day under the theme “Acceleration Action,” which is celebrated on 08th /03 annually. The UPC head of media and communications Faizo Mezeyi says this is a realization to the fact that much as women movement has achieved a lot since its first celebration in 1911, there is still more to be worked on to remove the bottle necks so as to achieve gender balance.
He emphasizes that empowering women is essential for achieving sustainable development and promoting social justice. However, he noted that current initiatives are insufficient, and more needs to be done to address the systemic barriers and biases that prevent women from reaching their full potential.
Muzeyi says Uganda, specifically on IWD, 2025, demands “for all women and girls; right, equality, empowerment.” We are being urged to swing into action to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities. The game changer is in advancing issues of gender equality by ensuring equal access to opportunities, especially but not limited to quality education and quality healthcare,” Muzeyi said.
He highlights that the education system is falling short of offering the best services. The country has a great figure of pupils’ enrolment at the primary one. However, at the end of the seven years cycle, many of the pupils fall off and can not be traced. For the girl child, it is linked to early pregnancies and marriages. “We must provide accessible opportunities for a girl child to continue with education after giving birth and/or vocational training. Similarly, effective enforcement of laws that protect a girl child below 18 years of age should be a priority,” Faizo said.
He stresses that women and girls in rural areas suffer a lot and are exposed to dangers by walking long distances to collect water, firewood, and food. The transport and communication links are a big challenge. Government and other stakeholders should move in to increase supply of water by investing in piped water, bore holes and valley dams especially for livestock during dry season as well providing cheaper sources of energy like solar power, bio gas and hydroelectric power.
Muzeyi says such arrangements make rural life better save working hours and give focus to agricultural activities, farming, fishing, and rearing of animals and poultry. Whatever is produced should have a ready market with a value addition, and such targets demand investing in Agro-processing industries and infrastructure.
Muzeyi called on the government to develop policies and programs that promote women’s economic empowerment, education, and health. He also stressed the importance of addressing violence against women and girls, which remains a pervasive problem in the country.
