The Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Peace Regis Mutuuzo, has called for increased investment to ensure access to justice for women and girls across Uganda.
Mutuuzo made the remarks on Sunday during the national celebrations commemorating International Women’s Day 2026, held at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.
The event was held under the national theme, “Scaling up investment to accelerate access to justice for women and girls across Uganda,” while the global theme for this year’s celebration is “Giving to Gain.”
“As we celebrate and recognize the contributions of women to national development, regional integration, and the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals, our focus today is on scaling up investment to accelerate access to justice for all women and girls in Uganda,” she said.
Mutuuzo noted that the struggle for women’s rights and gender equality in Uganda dates back several decades.
“The struggle for women’s emancipation and gender equality started way back in 1946. Our demand for equal rights and access to justice is not just a modern trend; it is a pathway through which Uganda can achieve faster development,” she said.
She commended the progress made over the years, particularly since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government expanded opportunities for women to participate in national development.
“We have seen how women have progressed since the NRM government enabled their participation in all areas of socio-economic development,” Mutuuzo said.
However, the minister acknowledged that significant challenges remain, particularly gender-based violence and economic inequality affecting women.
“A few challenges still remain in our quest for emancipation and gender equality. Gender-based violence continues to be high, with 52 percent of women having experienced physical violence. For those who have not faced physical violence, economic violence has often been part of their daily lives,” she said.
She emphasized that addressing these challenges requires stronger investment in legal systems, community awareness, and institutional support structures that protect women’s rights.
This year’s national commemoration brought together government officials, civil society organisations, development partners and members of the public to reflect on achievements made in promoting gender equality while identifying areas that require further investment to accelerate access to justice for women and girls.
