MBARARA – In a significant move to champion female employment and leadership, Brighter Monday Uganda together it’s partners have brought together Women and girls with an aim of equipping them with skills to assist in them breaking the barriers of unemployment.
At this event, which was held in Mbarara City on Thursday, various key stakeholders encouraged the participants, women were advised to gather the required skills needed so as to be able to take over male dominated jobs.
Mbarara Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebez, who delivered a powerful keynote address. Mayor Kakyebez encouraged the women in attendance to actively pursue skills training and seize job opportunities. He underscored a critical message of gender inclusivity, stating, “We are missing a lot of men in the room,” and emphasizing that men need to advocate more for women by being present in these spaces.
Xenia Wachira, the Country manager for Brighter Monday Uganda , revealed that they organized this event to have successful women in business inspire the young ones.
“We decided to go out of the central region (Kampala) , were we have been, to come to these areas (Mbarara) where there are many people with potential as you have witnessed. This event was to bring together women entrepreneurs with young people and women looking for employment, discuss their challenges as we make plans for their employment as well as inclusiveness.”
She added that they not only looking at mentoring women, they are looking forward for more sponsorship of these people so that they can have successful business ventures which can employ more people.
Namala Diana , a Town Clerk from Sheema District commended Brighter Monday for always extending free mentorship training and career guidance to women, that this has helped a lot in creating more women entrepreneurs.
“During this engagement the young people have been taught on proper communication skills, entrepreneurship skills as well as how to write good Curriculum Vitals (CVs). I have been inspired to see that we have Women who have succeeded in the business sector, and are willing to pass on the knowledge to the young generation.”
Eunice Katushabe Innocent , Gender and inclusion associate Brighter Monday Uganda, called upon the government, through the Ministry of Gender Labor and social development, to formulate policies that protect the youth during employment as well as empowering women in owning land (the major factor of production) in Uganda.
“We are here to discuss women in work , challenges they are facing , but we also want to celebrate because there is a lot they have done in the society. We want to draw means and strategies on the challenges they face for a safer working space.”
She further called upon all policy makers and change makers to ensure that they break the barriers which are deterring women to take up bigger positions of leadership.
The participants raised concerns of increasing cases of sexual harassment at places of work, lack of care centers for breast feeding mothers, safe places for people with disability at work and special care for people with disability. They therefore called upon concerned parties , to address this challenge as soon as possible.
The Women In Work event, brought together 211ambitious participants with majority being women.
