Civil society organisations advocating for women’s rights have called on the government to increase investment in programmes aimed at eliminating gender-based violence and promoting gender equality in Uganda.
The activists said stronger financial support and policy commitment are critical to addressing the persistent challenges faced by women and girls, including violence, limited access to resources and unequal economic opportunities.
The call was made during an engagement with the Meida in Kampala where civil society leaders urged the government and development partners to scale up funding for gender-responsive programmes.
Speaking on behalf of several organisations, including the Uganda Women’s Network and the Women of Uganda Network, Rose Wakikona, Deputy Executive Director of the Women’s Probono Initiative, said gender equality cannot be achieved without sustained investment.
She noted that while Uganda has made commitments to advance women’s rights, these efforts must be backed by adequate funding and stronger implementation mechanisms.
“Gender equality cannot be achieved through commitments alone. Government must allocate sufficient public resources to gender-responsive services and systems that prevent and respond to gender-based violence,” Wakikona said.
She also called for strengthened legal protections to secure women’s land and property rights, improved access to education and healthcare, and expanded opportunities for women to participate in economic and political life.
The coalition further urged the government and development partners to invest in women’s organisations and support female entrepreneurs through improved access to credit, agricultural financing and markets.
According to the activists, empowering women economically is essential for addressing the root causes of gender inequality and reducing vulnerability to violence.
Patience Ayikoru Poni, a member of FIDA Uganda, said Uganda has made notable progress in promoting women’s empowerment through legal reforms, increased access to education and greater representation of women in leadership.
“We have seen progress in the empowerment of women through different legal reforms and policies, and even increased participation of women in leadership,” Ayikoru said.
She noted that women now occupy about 45 percent of Cabinet positions, while more girls are enrolling in school and progressing to higher levels of education.
According to activists, girls account for about 44 percent of total school enrolment in Uganda, with a transition rate of about 61 percent from primary to secondary education.
Ayikoru also highlighted legal reforms such as amendments to the Succession Act, which now recognise girls as rightful heirs.
“Amendments to the Succession Act that recognise girls as rightful heirs are a significant step towards promoting gender equality in the country,” she said.
Uganda has also committed itself to several international frameworks aimed at protecting women’s rights, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the Maputo Protocol.
Despite these gains, activists warned that many women continue to face structural barriers that limit their access to land, education, healthcare, decent work and political participation.
Ayikoru said women own only about 26 percent of registered land in Uganda, despite contributing more than 75 percent of farm labour and up to 90 percent of primary agricultural processing.
“Only about 26 percent of registered land in Uganda is owned by women, yet women provide more than 75 percent of farm labour and contribute up to 90 percent of primary agricultural processing,” she said.
Activists also raised concern about the country’s maternal mortality and teenage pregnancy rates.
Uganda records about 189 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and a teenage pregnancy rate of approximately 26 percent, according to figures cited during the discussions.
They also highlighted the prevalence of gender-based violence affecting women and girls across the country.
Ayikoru said many women aged 15 and above have experienced physical, sexual or psychological violence, stressing that more resources are needed to strengthen prevention programmes and support survivors.
“Gender equality cannot remain a policy commitment without adequate funding and effective implementation of programmes that address the challenges women and girls continue to face,” she said.
Activists also paid tribute to women across the country, including those who recently contested in general elections, describing them as courageous leaders contributing to Uganda’s development.
They urged policymakers to prioritise gender equality in national planning and budgeting to ensure women and girls fully participate in the country’s social, economic and political transformation.
