Over 45 women to be awarded medals on women’s day commemoration

6 March 2025, 10:17 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

On 23rd March 1913, during the First World War, Russian women protested against it under the Julian calendar, which corresponded to 8th March in the Gregorian calendar used elsewhere. This became a global benchmark for Women’s Day rallies and commemorations.

Against this background, the State Minister for Gender and Culture, Hon. Peace Mutuuzo, yesterday, while at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, confirmed that Uganda will join other countries in commemorating this day in Kyankwanzi district.

“On 8th March, Uganda will join the rest of the world in commemorating International Women’s Day under the theme, ‘Accelerating Action for Gender Equality.’ This will take place at Bukwiri Church of Uganda Primary School, Butemba town council, Kyankwanzi district,” she said.

She added that the theme underscores the urgency of evaluating the progress made since Uganda became a signatory to international frameworks aimed at achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment.

“It is a call for deliberate interventions to bridge gender disparities in order to empower women as key contributors to national development,” Mutuuzo stated.

The economic cost of gender-based violence in Uganda stands at approximately $20 million per year, which translates to 71 billion Ugandan Shillings.

According to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), women make up 51.6% of Uganda’s population. The 2023 Police Crime Report states that out of 15,184 reported domestic violence cases, 10,792 victims were adult females, compared to 3,243 male victims. Juvenile victims included 644 girls and 503 boys. The minister noted that the number remains alarmingly high.

Uganda remains steadfast in its commitment to gender equality, as guided by global and regional frameworks, including:

• The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995): A landmark framework for advancing women’s rights worldwide.
• The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol): Strengthening women’s legal rights across Africa.

Uganda’s socioeconomic transformation depends on the full participation of women, and the minister encouraged women to embrace government programmes.

Regarding women engaged in prostitution, the minister stated that Uganda does not support prostitution and advised them to consider alternative livelihoods such as tailoring or selling produce in markets.

The United Nations Women Representative, Dr Paulina Chiwangu, who was also in attendance, commended the Ugandan government for its commitment to promoting women’s rights but emphasised that much work still needs to be done.

President Museveni is expected to be the chief guest at the event. According to the minister, 46 women and four men will be awarded medals.