KAMPALA, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering women, stating that it has been a deliberate focus since the National Resistance Movement came into power.
“I want to thank the Ambassador of Sweden for admitting that Uganda is more democratic than many of the European countries,” Museveni said during the International Women’s Day celebrations in Kyankwanzi district. “When we were empowering women, it was deliberate. When we defeated Idi Amin in 1979, I recruited women for our FRONASA.”
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Museveni’s comments were triggered by a speech delivered by the Ambassador of Sweden to Uganda, Maria Håkansson, who recognized Uganda’s significant progress in achieving the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
“In Uganda, women’s leadership and economic empowerment have expanded, and legal frameworks have been strengthened to protect women and girls,” Håkansson said. “Uganda is one of the countries in the subregion that other nations are learning from. We commend the government of Uganda for its commitment to advancing gender equality.”
Museveni emphasized the importance of educating the masses on wealth creation, empowering women through free education, and promoting economic empowerment.
“We have moved very well, but we could have moved even more if we had implemented initiatives including free government education,” Museveni said. “We brought free education to government schools through USE and UPE, but some local people ask learners for money at those schools.”
The President encouraged the gathering to make good use of the Parish Development Model (PDM) to get out of poverty and the Four-Acre Model as strategies to transition their households from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.
Vice President Maj. (Rtd.) Jessica Alupo Rose Epel hailed Museveni as a champion of women’s emancipation, citing the increased representation of women in leadership positions and the expansion of women’s leadership and economic empowerment.
“Through your strategic and visionary leadership, the women of Uganda are the biggest beneficiaries of the prevailing conducive environment for growth,” Alupo said. “You’re the first president in the whole of Africa to name a woman as a vice president.”
The Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo, thanked Museveni for consistently supporting International Women’s Day and recognizing the contribution of women to national development.
The celebrations were held under the theme “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality,” with various stakeholders calling for bold and strategic interventions to achieve a gender-equal future.
During the event, Museveni issued dummy checks to several beneficiary groups, including the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme, a government initiative aimed at enhancing women’s access to financial services.
Notable Ugandans, including First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, were awarded medals for exceptional service. Kadaga has been an advocate for women’s rights and has held various ministerial positions.
