A call to urgently reform workplace policies to address gender-based discrimination, unequal pay, and limited opportunities for women echoed strongly as women entrepreneurs, students, and jobseekers convened at Adit Mall for a dynamic Women in Work forum organized by BrighterMonday Uganda.
The event, held under the theme “Unlocking Potential and Driving Inclusion,” attracted women from across western Uganda, providing a platform to share real challenges faced at workplaces and propose tangible solutions for inclusive employment.
“We’re not here to elevate women above men, but to highlight that women have been systematically left behind. There is a glass ceiling in employment. You say ‘secretary,’ and people picture a woman. Say ‘CEO,’ and it’s a man. That must change,” said Eunice Innocent Katushabe, Gender and Inclusion Associate at BrighterMonday Uganda.
Katushabe called on institutions to go beyond lip service by enacting and implementing inclusive, gender-sensitive policies that protect women and promote fairness at work.
“We are still battling issues like sexual harassment, sex-for-work, and now even sex-for-marks in institutions. We need practical, evidence-based policies that don’t stay on paper but are enforced,” she emphasized.
Katushabe further urged government and organizations to revise outdated frameworks and include measures like childcare facilities at workplaces, which she said would enable mothers to return to work without fear for their children's safety.
The Brighter Monday-led event also showcased the Young Africa Works program, a MasterCard Foundation-supported initiative aimed at skilling young Ugandans—70% of them women—in soft skills and job readiness.
“Yes, they come with degrees, but many young people don’t know how to communicate professionally or even write a CV. That’s why we’re skilling and job-placing them, and it’s all free,” Katushabe added.
Xenia Wachira, the Country Manager for BrighterMonday Uganda, said taking the women-in-work conversation beyond Kampala was deliberate.
“There’s a lot of untapped potential outside the capital. That’s why we came to Mbarara. These women are entrepreneurs, students, and job seekers who deserve access to the same platforms,” Wachira said.
She highlighted the importance of mentorship and visibility, urging women who have excelled in business and careers to support others through real-life guidance.
“Mentorship is critical. A lot of young women don’t think success is possible until they see someone like them doing it. We need more sponsors and mentors to guide the next generation,” she said.
Diana Namara, the Town Clerk of Suku in Sheema District, applauded the event and underscored the urgent need for child-friendly workplace policies.
“Most workplaces don’t have facilities for childcare. Many skilled, educated young mothers drop out of employment simply because they don’t feel safe leaving their children at home. That must be addressed,” she noted.
Namara also highlighted barriers like pay discrimination, limited promotion opportunities, and stereotypes that continue to sideline women in Uganda’s workforce.
“Equal pay for equal work must be enforced. And we need to promote women into leadership roles—not because they are women, but because they can deliver,” she said.
She called on young women to seize opportunities offered by institutions like BrighterMonday Uganda.
“Acquire the soft skills, show up early, and compete favorably. Promotion is earned, not handed out on a silver platter,” Namara emphasized.
The forum ended with a resounding call to government and private institutions to revise and enforce inclusive labor policies, create safe spaces for women at work, and invest in mentorship and skill-building.
BrighterMonday Uganda pledged to continue taking these engagements across Uganda to ensure no woman is left behind.