RC Remarks at the National Commemoration of International Women's Day

Salutations:

• Your Excellency, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda;
• The Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Honourable Betty Amongi Ongom;
• Honourable Ministers;
• Your Excellencies, the Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
• Distinguished Development Partners;
• Honourable Members of Parliament;
• Representatives from Civil Society and the Private Sector;
• Colleagues from the United Nations;
• Distinguished Guests;
• Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is an honour to stand before you today, in the presence of the leadership of this nation, as Uganda joins the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day 2026.

Today, we celebrate the leadership, resilience, and transformative contribution of the women and girls of Uganda. This is a moment to reaffirm that gender equality is much more than an aspiration. It is a legal obligation, and a prerequisite for sustainable development and lasting peace and development.

This year’s global theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls,” is a clear call to move from commitments to concrete results, to ensure that justice is real, accessible, and effective in the daily lives of women and girls. 

Uganda’s national theme – “Scaling up Investment to Accelerate Access to Justice for All Women and Girls in Uganda” – speaks directly to this global call. It reflects a clear national understanding that justice is the foundation upon which equality, peace, and sustainable development are built.

Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Access to justice means that a woman can report violence without fear of retaliation. It means that a girl has the right to inherit property without discrimination. That a woman can have access to and control to land, financing, extension services and technology. It means that a woman living in a rural district, a refugee settlement, or an informal urban community can claim her rights without facing stigma, cost barriers, or procedural obstacles. 

It also requires fair laws, responsive institutions, and systems that people can trust. It means ensuring that women participate fully and equally in leadership, especially in political and justice-sector decision-making. And it means standing firm on zero tolerance for abuse, corruption, and impunity – including preventing sexual exploitation and abuse – while ensuring strong accountability and protecting the dignity and rights of women and girls at all times. 

Justice must be available, accessible, affordable, and responsive to the realities of those who are most at risk of being left behind – rural women, women with disabilities, adolescent girls, older women, women in in hard-to-reach areas, women in situations of displacement, women facing economic deprivation,  and those facing intersecting forms of discrimination. For women and girls with disabilities, this includes protection from heightened risks of gender-based violence, accessible reporting mechanisms, reasonable accommodation in legal proceedings, and above all, equal recognition before the law.

Access to justice is therefore not only a legal matter, but also a development imperative, a human rights obligation, and a cornerstone of peace and stability.

Uganda has demonstrated commendable leadership in aligning national priorities with the 2030 Agenda, particularly in advancing SDG 5 on Gender Equality and SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. These commitments are affirmed in national frameworks such as the Fourth National Development Plan, the Parish Development Model and Constitutional provisions on gender equality. 

Uganda has also made commendable strides in promoting women’s participation in governance through affirmative action policies, reserved seats in Parliament and local government, and increased representation of women in public institutions. We particularly commend the Judiciary and justice institutions, where women now constitute nearly half of the judicial workforce. Their work embodies the commitment to leave no one behind, ensuring that every individual can claim their rights and be heard.

While important progress has been made, sustained investment and targeted action remain essential. Priority areas include strengthening gender sensitivity across the justice chain particularly among the police, prosecutors, and judicial officers; expanding access to legal aid, with the long-debated legal aid law offering an important opportunity to institutionalize and scale service provision and, enhancing alternative dispute resolution services in rural and refugee-hosting districts. Continued efforts are also needed to address case backlogs through digital and mobile justice innovations, while ensuring internet connectivity to ease use.

Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The United Nations, together with the Government and partners such as: Austria, the Netherlands, and the European Union – have registered results in advancing Uganda’s justice and gender equality agenda through practical programmes and strong partnerships. Among the results of these commitments are the following: 

• The Special Gender Based Violence  (GBV) sessions have reduced case backlog, disposing over 4,500 Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases and increased the conviction rates from 20% to 80%.
• Access to justice has expanded geographically through the creation of fourty (40) High Court Circuits and the revival of Local Council Courts to complement the formal justice system.
• In addition, catalytic investments have been made in advancing digital justice innovations, legal empowerment, and capacity building for judges, prosecutors, court clerks, police, and probation officers.
• The Spotlight Initiative, jointly implemented by the UN and supported by the European Union and the Netherlands, under host of the Ministry of Gender, continues to address violence against women and girls through supporting legal reform, institutional strengthening, and community transformation.

Despite our collective efforts, however, too many women and girls still face systemic barriers throughout the justice journey—from reporting violations to securing enforcement of judgments. Harmful social norms, fear of stigma and retaliation, unfair working conditions and limited legal awareness among communities continue to limit access to justice for many, especially in rural areas and refugee settlements. That is why, as UN, we are proud today to join the Government of Uganda in launching the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Strategy, with the shared ambition of making Uganda the first country to reduce FGM cases to zero by 2030; and  the National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence, which stands as a powerful demonstration of what collective action can achieve when governments, development partners, civil society, and among communities come together with a shared purpose.

We must be mindful that justice also begins long before a case reaches a courtroom. True justice begins in our homes, our schools, our work places and our communities. It begins in schools where girls are taught to know their rights, and when boys are raised to respect gender equality. In communities where leaders speak out against violence and exclusion.

In a nation where young people form the majority, investing in girls’ legal literacy, education, and economic and job opportunities is one of the most powerful investments Uganda can make as a national development strategy. 

The United Nations Country Team in Uganda remains steadfast in our commitment to walk alongside the Government and the people of Uganda. Together with civil society, cultural and religious leaders, and development partners, we will continue to support gender-responsive legal reforms, strengthen GBV survivor-centered services, promote women’s leadership in peace and governance, ensure women’s rights at work, and advance an inclusive justice system that truly leaves no one behind.

On this International Women’s Day, let us therefore commit to building together a Uganda where justice is not a privilege, but a guaranteed right for every woman and every girl – without discrimination, without delay, and without exception.

Happy International Women’s Day to all Women and Girls in Uganda.

Thank you for your kind attention.