As Uganda prepares to celebrate International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8, 2025, female Members of Parliament (MPs) have raised their voices, calling for greater attention to the challenges women face across the country. Their concerns range from the availability of sanitary pads and access to financial resources to land rights and the protection of women’s dignity.
During a parliamentary session on March 6, 2025, the MPs urged the government to accelerate action for gender equality, highlighting the inequalities women continue to endure despite some progress made over the years.
One of the most urgent issues raised was the scarcity of sanitary pads and inadequate hygiene facilities for women, especially in schools and detention centres.
Christine Nakimero, Woman Representative for Kiboga (NUP), voiced frustration over the disparity in access to essential health products, pointing out that while products like condoms are readily available, sanitary pads remain scarce.
“While products like condoms, which primarily benefit men, are easily accessible, essential sanitary items for women are often unavailable,” Nakimero said.
This issue was echoed by Brenda Nabukenya, Woman Representative for Luwero (NUP), who highlighted the struggles of women in custody. Many of these women are denied access to sanitary towels and proper hygiene facilities, exacerbating their vulnerable conditions.
“We must urgently address the social, security, and healthcare challenges faced by women in detention,” Nabukenya emphasized.
The safety and dignity of women in public spaces also emerged as a pressing concern. Christine Akello, Woman Representative for Erute County North (NRM), described disturbing instances of public abuse against female suspects, many of whom are undressed and physically assaulted in public. She condemned these acts as blatant violations of women’s rights, often targeting their private parts in what she termed the “central government” of women.
Economic empowerment remains out of reach for many women, particularly due to limited access to loans and financial resources. Gule Avako, Woman Representative for Yumbe (NRM), pointed out that many women struggle to access loans because they lack collateral like land or property, which are often registered under male ownership.
“Without property ownership, women are excluded from financial opportunities that could help them start and grow businesses,” Avako noted.
Dorcus Acen, Woman Representative for Alebtong (NRM), criticized the misallocation of funds, stating that large sums spent on celebrations like International Women’s Day could better serve women’s empowerment programs. She noted that initiatives like the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) often fail to reach rural women.
“Many women, especially those in rural areas, are not benefiting from government initiatives meant to support their economic growth,” Acen said.
The increasing number of child parents in Uganda remains a serious concern, and many of these young mothers face barriers to continuing their education. Flavia Kabahenda, Woman Representative for Kyegegwa, called for policies that would support the reintegration of young mothers into the education system.
“We must not abandon young mothers. “They deserve a second chance at education and a better future,” Kabahenda urged.
Strengthening family responsibility was also a key issue raised during the session. Maneno Zumura, Woman Representative for Obongi (NRM), urged men to take responsibility for their families, stressing the importance of supporting their wives, caring for their children, and providing stable homes.
“Men must prioritize their families and avoid seeking mistresses at the expense of their homes,” Zumura said.
Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development Betty Amongi acknowledged the progress made in closing Uganda’s gender gap, while also highlighting persistent inequalities.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, Uganda’s gender gap score improved from 0.6797 in 2006 to 0.706 in 2024. However, full gender equality (score of 1) remains out of reach, and development continues to favour men and boys.
Uganda continues to make strides toward gender equality, but significant gaps remain. The Global Gender Gap Index, which measures disparities between men and women, highlights four key areas where progress is assessed: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. According to Betty Amongi, the Minister for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, while there have been visible improvements, more effort is needed to close these gaps and achieve true gender parity.
One of the most notable areas of progress is women’s representation in leadership, yet the numbers still reveal an uneven picture. Women have made gains in senior government positions, holding 44% of senior ministerial roles (14 out of 32), 50% of permanent secretary positions (17 out of 34), and 38% of CEO roles (15 out of 39). Among Uganda’s ambassadors, 14 out of 37 (38%) are women. However, despite these advances at the national level, women’s representation in parliament and local government remains a concern. Women make up 34% of parliament (175 out of 514 MPs), with 146 of them serving as district women representatives. In local government, women account for 45.7% of elected leaders, but they hold only 5 out of 146 district chairperson seats and just 1 out of 11 city mayor positions. This imbalance underscores the ongoing challenges women face in gaining leadership roles, particularly at the grassroots level.
As Uganda prepares to celebrate International Women’s Day, the country is reflecting on both the achievements and the work still ahead. This year’s celebration will be held in Kyankwanzi District under the global theme “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality”. The event will honour 46 individuals — 42 women and 4 men — for their exceptional contributions to advancing gender equality. These awards will recognize champions in areas such as poverty alleviation, education and training, health and survival, combating violence against women, economic empowerment, and political representation.