Remarks by UN Resident Coordinator at National Commemoration of International Women's Day

Acknowledgements:

Your Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda,

Your Excellency the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda,

Rt. Honourable Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda,

Your Lordship the Chief Justice of the Republic of Uganda,

Rt. Honourable Deputy Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda,

Rt. Honourable Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda,

Rt. Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers,

The Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement,

The Leader of Opposition in Parliament,

Religious Leaders,

Honourable Ministers,

Your Excellences Ambassadors and High Commissioners,

Honourable Members of Parliament,

Distinguished Guests,

All Women and Girls of Uganda,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Importance of International Women’s Day

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the United Nations system in Uganda, I am delighted to join today’s the national commemoration of the International Women’s Day reflecting on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The national theme is, “Building on Women’s Strength for a Better Future in a COVID-19 World,”. It highlights the effects of COVID-19 on women and girls and seeks to generate national conversations on recognizing and promoting women’s leadership during the pandemic as well their role in addressing its socio-economic impact. Today is an opportunity to reflect on progress made, call for change and celebrate acts of courage by ordinary women. The values of Obuntubulamu will guide my remarks.  I begin with the Obuntubulamu values of empathy and civic engagement to convey my condolences to all families who lost loved ones during the past year. I convey my sympathies to all the women disrespected and humiliated due to COVID-19 and violence as Uganda prepared for general elections. I reiterate our call for ‘Peace First’ in this nation which we developed in close collaboration with the Youth SDG Coalition, the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE-UG) and the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance. I recognise the Government for ensuring security and for their willingness to take corrective action when officers used the wrong methods against the wanainchi when conducting arrests.

Key achievements

Your Excellency, thank you for being one of the early champions of gender equality and women’s empowerment in Uganda by creating an environment that has enabled women to participate and lead in positions of influence. I would also like to recognise your leadership in launching the Spotlight Initiative, a partnership between the European Union and United Nations to eliminate gender-based violence against women and girls in March last year. Under this partnership some of what we have achieved together include:

• Adoption of the Adolescent Health Policy and Adolescent and Health Services Standards;
• Finalization of the condensed Police Standard Operation Procedures on effective investigation and management of GBV/violence against women and children (VAC) – cases; and
• Development of a virtual curriculum for the social welfare workforce and protection actors in target districts, among others.

Obwesimbu which means integrity – an enabling environment for the promotion of human rights:

Ladies and gentlemen, the 1995 Constitution, under Article 33(3) provides for the protection of women and their rights. The advancement of women’s rights also relies on gender responsive policies such as the Employment Act No.6 (2006), the Uganda Gender Policy (2007) and the National Policy on the Elimination of Gender-based Violence (2016). We must work together to increase awareness and support implementation. In February 2020, we launched the Uganda chapter of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) an AU platform to enhance the leadership of women in the transformation of Africa and to bring together women from all walks of life to change the narrative around women’s equal participation in leadership. Let’s use this platform.

Recognition of women in leadership: Obwerufu which means transparency and honesty

The United Nations would like to use this opportunity to recognize several Ugandan women leaders who are an inspiration for current and future generations including the First Lady of the Republic of Uganda and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni; Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga; Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Ruth Achieng for her extraordinary leadership in the Covid-19 response; Minister in Charge of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Mary Karooro Okurut for her leadership in creating awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); for serving on the legislative Council - Hon. Rhodha Kalema, Ms. Joyce Mpanga, Florence Lubega and Florence Akello. For being pioneers who contribute to the economy, promote honesty, transformation and transparency, let us recognise Elizabeth Lwanga, Maggie Kigozi, Hon. Miriam Matembe and Anne Jjuko, the Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic Bank Uganda’s largest bank. In addition, let’s recognize emerging leaders Vanessa Nakate, the climate change activist; Victo Nalule, founder of Tunaweza Foundation who demonstrates that you can still contribute and lead as a person with different abilities.

Let us recognise women in cultural instructions who are influencing positive change - HRH Sylvia Nagginda, the Nnabagereka of Buganda, who through the Nnabagereka Development Foundation and Ekisakaate Kya Nabagereka is promoting education for girls, safe motherhood, child health and civic education; and HRH the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa of Tooro Kingdom for being one of the founders of the Council of Traditional and Cultural Leaders of Africa (COTLA) launched in Uganda in December 2020. Let’s also recognise the active participation of African Women Leaders who through the Women’s Situation Room deployed to support the election as observes and managed a call center to address emerging challenges.

This is our first International Women’s Day since COVID-19. The pandemic has exacerbated gender inequalities and increased violence in homes. In these circumstances, women have played a significant role in responding to the pandemic as frontline health workers, caregivers at home, market women, teachers, members of the security forces etc.  During my missions to South Western and Karamoja regions to support delivery of essential UN programs, I met women and girls serving their communities selflessly with meagre resources. Allow me recognise some of them:

• Oliver  Namasuba, Executive Director, Hope for Children in Amudat district who opened a temporary rescue shelter at Kalas Girls Primary School for girls fleeing from gender-based violence.
• Lochoro Maria, a 63 year-old woman who started ‘Ochamunosi Loptuk’ - a group fighting gender based violence in her community including counselling services to survivors of GBV.
• A group of 12 youth (eight females and four males) in Kashojes C Village- Basecamp Zone in Isingiro who are solving problems of unemployment and lack of vocational skills for youth through making shoes and training on craft making.
• Mavita Ali, a youth promoting the recognition of sports as a powerful sector that can provide employment to our youth and promote learning of positive life skills.
• Christine Kabazira a budding journalist for her exceptional skills in creating awareness on development issues.

How can we accelerate action? - Obumu which means unity

Together we must continue to improve the socio-economic status of women and girls while eliminating violence and other harmful practices including child marriages and FGM. It is necessary if women are to continue participating in Uganda’s governance, development and democratic journey. I wish to congratulate all women who courageously participated in the electoral process as candidates and voters. Out of the 529 MPs in the 11th Parliament, 173 are women. This translates into 146 District Women MPs, 14 female MPs representing direct seats and 13 MPs  representing special interest groups.

Building on these major strides that are contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5, ‘Gender Equality’, the UN recognizes that expanding women’s leadership and participation across all levels in society during this COVID-19 new normal, requires changing perceptions of masculinity. We know that through their actions men can transform social norms, behaviours and gender stereotypes that perpetuate discrimination and inequality. We are therefore calling on men and boys to join the network of positive masculinity (‘Men@Work’) led by UNWOMEN and become champions for gender equality in their households and communities. 

We also call on the 10th Parliament to prioritize passage into Law of key pending bills including the National Health Insurance Bill, the Pensions Bill, the Minimum Wage Bill and the Legal Aid Bill. We also call on the Government to revise the National Social Protection Policy to include the informal sector and to increase resources for implementation of the National Plan for Older Persons 2012, the NSSF and Pension Act (to include prompt payments) and Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Act among others. On gender- based violence, we call upon the private sector to join the United Nations Gender Seal led by UNDP to ensure gender equality in their businesses and management.

As I conclude, Your Excellency, we thank you for launching today the Third National Plan on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women peace and security which was developed under the leadership of Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

I also want to recognise that the global COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the core of our societies, highlighted the negative consequences of inequality and also brought an opportunity - to build a more equitable and environment friendly development system as well as more humane, inclusive and resilient societies. I reiterate our commitment to work with the people and Government of Uganda to attain the National Vison 2040 and inclusive sustainable development through the SDGs. We will continue to prioritize our engagement with women and  youth to support their participation in bringing the SDGs to life. Our priorities going forward will include promoting civic education and ‘Obuntubulamu’ in close collaboration with NICE-UG, supporting gender equality and human rights, facilitating agro-industrialization and tourism as well as greater investment in human capital development and financing the SDGs. I invite participants to read our Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021 – 2025 on our website https://uganda.un.org  for more details on our commitments. Together we can build a modern society in which no one is left behind.

Let me end with a quote from Nelson Mandela, “While poverty persists, there is no true freedom”. I pray that we may unite through women empowerment to achieve true freedom for all. Thank you.