Women have been urged to boldly pursue opportunities and challenge stereotypes that limit them to traditionally “soft” roles as Uganda joined the rest of the world in commemorating International Women’s Day.
The call was made during an engagement hosted by Lapaire Uganda at its offices in Ntinda, where stakeholders from the media, health sector, legal fraternity and corporate world gathered to discuss women’s empowerment, leadership and access to health services, particularly eye care.
Speakers at the event emphasized the need for women to take up space in workplaces, leadership positions and industries often perceived as male-dominated.
Lorraine Aguti, a lawyer and policy analyst, applauded Lapaire for creating a platform that centers women and encouraged women to confidently pursue their ambitions without fear of societal expectations.
“I think as women, there is a need for us to embrace our nature,” Aguti said.
“Society often has expectations of what women should be — feminine and quiet — but in my perspective, a woman can be anything.”
She challenged stereotypes that discourage women from pursuing ambitious goals, noting that women are often judged for interests or aspirations traditionally associated with men.
“You’ll even find fellow women saying, ‘Oh my God, that’s for men. How will you get married with such a rough tendency? You’re too ambitious,’” she said.
“But it’s okay for a woman to want to be the next great robotics engineer or create something the world has never seen.”
Aguti stressed that empowering women benefits not only individuals but entire communities and future generations.
“When you empower a woman, you empower everything around her and every generation that comes after her,” she said.
She also urged women to prioritize their health, including regular eye checkups.
“As women, we are already marginalized when it comes to disabilities. When a woman develops a disability, it further worsens her situation. Take care of your health,” she added.
Roseline Kironzo, Marketing Manager at Lapaire Africa, highlighted the theme “Give to Gain,” saying empowerment can come through sharing knowledge, opportunities and support.
“Giving does not necessarily mean material things,” she said. “If you give advice to someone starting out, share a job opportunity or pass on knowledge, it can mean so much to someone else.”
Kironzo explained that mentorship and knowledge-sharing are powerful tools for empowerment.
“There’s a concept in medicine called ‘See one, do one, teach one.’ You observe something, do it, and then teach it to someone else. That kind of giving uplifts people and allows everyone to grow together,” she said.
Mark Muoki, Human Resource Manager for Lapaire East Africa, encouraged women to apply for opportunities even when they feel underqualified.
“Don’t wait until you fulfill 100 percent of the criteria needed for a role. Just give it a shot,” he said.
Muoki noted that social conditioning and patriarchal norms often cause women to doubt themselves in professional spaces.
“Women sometimes feel like, ‘I’m not supposed to be here; it’s even a privilege that I’m here.’ No — my advice is go for it,” he said. “Even if you only meet one out of five criteria, apply anyway.”
He also urged employers to intentionally support women’s leadership in order to create a more diverse workforce.
Lyne Atwiine from Satisfashion Uganda emphasized the importance of challenging internalized beliefs that limit women’s participation in certain professions.
“Sometimes we internalize the narrative that men are more capable of doing certain things,” she said. “Yet as a woman you have your own skill set and training. You shouldn’t let the notion that a space is for men make you shrink yourself.”
She also called on the media to amplify women’s voices and highlight the often invisible labour women contribute to society.
In addition to discussions on empowerment, experts at the event emphasized the importance of eye health awareness.
Atwiine, who is also an eye specialist at Lapaire, encouraged women to play a leading role in detecting eye problems within their families.
“At Lapaire we talk about the clear side and how it changes everything. Our mission is to help people see more clearly,” she said.
“But vision is not only about eyesight — it’s also about perspective and how you approach your challenges and opportunities.”
She encouraged women to challenge self-doubt and embrace new opportunities.
“Maybe you’ve been thinking, ‘I’m not capable of doing this.’ But allow yourself to think, ‘What if I can?’ Because you can,” she said.
Lynette also urged women to be proactive about eye health for themselves and their children, noting that early detection is key.
“We are the first doctors to our children. If you notice itchy, tearing or painful eyes, or children struggling to see far or experiencing headaches while reading, you should take action.”
She revealed that Uganda still faces a significant burden of avoidable blindness.
“We have close to 25,000 people in the country with what we call curable blindness — cases that can be corrected through surgery or glasses,” she said.
According to Lapaire, the organization has conducted more than one million eye tests across Africa and prescribed glasses to over 300,000 people.
Participants highlighted that empowering women, encouraging leadership and promoting health awareness are essential steps toward building stronger communities.
Aguti also urged women to overcome self-pity and confidently claim their space.
“The goal is to take up space and support other women who take up space,” she said.
