Uganda is poised to reshape its care economy to address gender inequalities and bolster sustainable development.
This announcement, made by Peace Regis Mutuuzo, Minister of State for Gender and Culture Affairs, came at a ceremony commemorating the inaugural International Day of Care and Support in Kampala.
Minister Mutuuzo underscored Uganda’s drive to recognize and empower the often invisible contributions of unpaid care work, a sector that disproportionately impacts women and girls.
The International Day of Care and Support, recently designated by the United Nations to raise global awareness around care work, was marked this year with a theme calling for transformative action.
In her speech, Minister Mutuuzo highlighted the essential role of caregiving within Ugandan society, noting its economic impact: unpaid care work, largely carried out by women, contributes an estimated $10.8 trillion annually to the global economy.
Despite this, such work often goes unrecognized and is excluded from conventional economic measures like GDP.
The Ugandan government, through its Third National Development Plan, is launching targeted initiatives to address care work disparities.
These include expanding access to clean, piped water in rural areas; investing in eco-friendly fuel sources; improving access to time-saving domestic appliances; increasing the reach of childcare facilities; and enhancing sanitation for women and girls.
Supported by global organizations, including the World Bank’s GROW program, these efforts aim to relieve the burden of unpaid care work and make it more equitable.
Minister Mutuuzo emphasized that the societal norm framing women as primary caregivers and men as protectors has created lasting inequalities.
“This has perpetuated a gendered division of labor, placing heavy caregiving responsibilities on women,” she stated, calling for policy reforms and meaningful dialogue to shift these outdated narratives.
The minister stressed that Uganda’s economic measures should evolve to account for the substantial contributions of unpaid labor, which currently sustain households and the broader market economy without recognition.
Backing the government’s initiative, international partners Oxfam Uganda and Care International Uganda committed resources to support the event and broader advocacy efforts.
Minister Mutuuzo urged stakeholders across sectors to support an overhaul of the care economy by “recognizing, reducing, redistributing, and rewarding” care work.
As Uganda celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration for gender equality, this initiative marks a transformative chapter in the country’s journey toward a fairer, more inclusive society.
The Minister concluded with a pledge for government collaboration in ensuring that care work is valued, gender equality is promoted, and Uganda moves towards a sustainable and prosperous future.