Uganda Reaffirms Commitment to Gender Equality, Justice and Women’s Empowerment on International Women’s Day 2026

Uganda marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a renewed commitment to advancing gender equality, protecting women’s rights and accelerating action to ensure that every woman and girl can access justice, live free from violence and discrimination, and participate fully in the country’s development.

The national commemoration brought together the Vice President, the Prime Minister, Ministers, Members of Parliament, the United Nations, development partners, civil society organizations, religious and cultural leaders, private sector representatives and members of the public to reflect on progress made and reaffirm collective action towards achieving gender equality.

Held under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” the commemoration celebrated Uganda’s achievements in promoting women’s leadership and empowerment while recognizing the need for continued investment to address persistent inequalities.

Reflecting on Four Decades of Progress

A powerful moment during the celebrations revisited Uganda’s first International Women’s Day observance in 1984 through archival footage featuring former First Lady Mama Miria Obote. Her remarks highlighted the limited participation of women in leadership and decision-making despite women constituting a significant proportion of the population.

More than four decades later, Uganda has recorded important milestones in advancing women’s representation and leadership. Today, 44 women serve in Cabinet, women constitute 51 per cent of the judiciary, and 17 women serve as Permanent Secretaries. These achievements reflect decades of advocacy, policy reforms and sustained efforts to create opportunities for women’s participation in public life.

While acknowledging this progress, speakers emphasized that continued commitment, investment and partnerships remain essential to eliminate structural barriers and ensure that all women and girls can fully enjoy their rights.

Scaling Up Access to Justice for Women and Girls

Access to justice emerged as a central focus of the commemoration, with speakers underscoring its critical role in advancing gender equality, sustainable development and lasting peace.

Speaking at the event, UN Women Uganda Country Representative, Dr. Paulina Chiwangu, emphasized that accelerating access to justice requires sustained investment in institutions, quality services and the leadership of women and girls.

“Access to justice is more than legal representation—it is about ensuring that every woman and girl, regardless of where she lives or her circumstances, can claim her rights, access quality services and participate equally in shaping her future,” she said.

Dr. Chiwangu reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to working with the Government of Uganda, the United Nations system, development partners and civil society organizations to strengthen survivor-centered justice systems, promote women’s leadership and advance policies that leave no woman or girl behind.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda, Mr. Leonard Zulu, highlighted that access to justice is fundamental to achieving gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Access to justice means that a woman can report violence without fear of retaliation. Justice must be available, accessible, affordable and responsive to those most at risk of being left behind,” he said.

He highlighted investments by the Government of Uganda, the United Nations, Austria, the Netherlands and the European Union in strengthening justice delivery for survivors of gender-based violence. Through specialized Gender-Based Violence court sessions, more than 4,500 sexual and gender-based violence cases have been resolved, while conviction rates have increased from 20 per cent to 80 per cent.

Advancing Women’s Leadership and Economic Empowerment

Beyond justice, speakers emphasized that women’s leadership and economic empowerment remain essential drivers of inclusive and sustainable development.

The Chairperson of the National Women’s Council, Hajjat Faridah Kibowa, encouraged women to continue playing an active role in shaping Uganda’s future. She highlighted progress in expanding women’s access to productive resources, noting that digital land registration has increased opportunities for women to secure land ownership, with women accounting for 30 per cent of registered landowners under the online system.

She also called for strengthened protection mechanisms for women and girls affected by conflict, who often experience disproportionate social and economic impacts.

The French Ambassador to Uganda, Virginie Leroy, emphasized that empowering women and girls is fundamental to sustainable development. She called for continued efforts to transform harmful social norms and strengthen initiatives that engage men and boys as partners in advancing gender equality.

The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi Ongom, highlighted government initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for women and girls, including the Second Chance Education Initiative, which supports young mothers to return to school and complete their education.

Representing the President, Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo underscored the transformative power of girls’ education in strengthening families and communities. She highlighted affirmative action measures, including additional university admission points for female students, which have contributed to increased participation of women in higher education and leadership.

Private Sector Commitment Through Ring the Bell for Gender Equality

As part of the International Women’s Day 2026 celebrations, UN Women Uganda, in partnership with stakeholders from the private sector and development community, convened the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality event on 12 March 2026 at Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

The event brought together business leaders, government representatives, development partners and other stakeholders to highlight the critical role of the private sector in advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality.

During the event, more than 20 companies reaffirmed their commitment to workplace gender equality by signing the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). The commitments reflected a shared responsibility to promote inclusive workplaces, strengthen women’s leadership, support women’s economic participation and expand equal opportunities across business sectors.

The Ring the Bell initiative reinforced the importance of collective action across all sectors of society. By adopting gender-responsive policies and practices, businesses can play a transformative role in accelerating progress for women and girls and contributing to a more inclusive economy.

Renewed Commitment Through Policy Action

The national commemoration concluded with the launch of three key policy frameworks that will guide Uganda’s efforts to advance gender equality in the coming years:

• The Second National Action Plan on the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence (2026–2031)
• The Uganda Gender and Equity Climate Action Strategy (2026–2031)
• The National Strategy on Ending Female Genital Mutilation (2026–2030)

Together, these frameworks reinforce Uganda’s commitment to preventing violence against women and girls, addressing structural inequalities and promoting inclusive development.

International Women’s Day 2026 reaffirmed that accelerating progress for women and girls requires sustained investment, strong partnerships and collective action.

Through its partnership with the Government of Uganda, the United Nations system, development partners, private sector actors and civil society organizations, UN Women continues to support efforts to strengthen justice systems, eliminate gender-based violence, expand women’s leadership and advance policies that promote the rights and opportunities of women and girls across Uganda.

As Uganda builds on more than four decades of progress, the message from the 2026 commemoration remains clear: ensuring justice, equality and equal opportunity for every woman and girl is not only a human rights imperative—it is essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive development.