By Danze Edwin John
Gaming has long been perceived as a "guy thing," but this perception is beginning to shift. As more individuals stayed at home during the COVID-19 lockdown, gaming became a go-to escape from boredom and captured the interest of women as well.
And guess what? As women started gaming, they weren’t just playing for fun; they were competing, leveling up, and proving they could even dominate their male counterparts. But despite this growth, female gamers still face constant underestimation, with the community acting like they don’t belong.
If we want to grow the gaming sector in Uganda, we must intentionally create space for women through women-focused tournaments, mentorship programs, and early exposure to gaming in schools to normalize the idea that girls can become gamers and developers.
More than simply a hobby, gaming is a whole business with job options in design, programming, animation, and game production. However, how many women in Uganda are even aware of that?
The majority of the games that are played in Uganda are developed overseas. By investing in local game development and ensuring that men and women have equal opportunities to create and innovate, that vast gap may be bridged.
Imagine Ugandan-made games that highlight our culture and tell our history, but it won't be possible unless we establish mechanisms that support everyone in the gaming sector. It’s time to move beyond stereotypes and build an industry where women in gaming thrive.