Empowered for Change: Advancing the Rights and Equality of Women and Girls in Uganda.

Empowered for Change: Advancing the Rights and Equality of Women and Girls in Uganda.

What if every Ugandan woman could live unburdened by injustice, free to pursue her dreams without barriers? Picture a Uganda where every woman stands fearless, unshackled from systemic inequality and any form of injustice. As we mark International Women’s Day 2025, we find ourselves at a pivotal crossroads, a moment demanding both profound reflection and bold, transformative action. While the fight for gender equality has achieved remarkable progress, entrenched barriers continue to hold back countless women and girls, particularly in Uganda’s most vulnerable communities.

The year 2025 also marks a historic milestone: the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global commitment that revolutionized the women’s rights agenda. This visionary blueprint transformed legal protection, expanded access to essential services, energized youth engagement, and shifted long-held social norms. As we celebrate this momentous occasion, we are reminded that change is not only possible it is within our grasp if we commit to real, action.

In recent times, Uganda has made significant legislative strides, epitomized by the Domestic Violence Act of 2010, which stands as a beacon of our commitment to holding perpetrators accountable and safeguarding survivors. Alongside these legal reforms, Uganda has embraced the call to provide essential services, shelters, legal aid, counselling, and healthcare, through both government initiatives and dedicated local Non- Government Organisations (NGOs).

In addition to legal reforms, Uganda has made strides in providing direct support to survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The country now boasts over 23 GBV safety shelters scattered across regions and utilized across districts. These shelters offer safe spaces for survivors, providing counselling services, financed treatment, legal services, and follow-up on court cases. As of 2024, a total of 79,695 survivors (68,538 females, 11,157 males, and 444 persons with disabilities) have accessed a comprehensive package of support services through these shelters over the past five years. Impressively, 68,141 cases (61.1%) were resolved through mediation, court rulings, referrals, and counselling, demonstrating the effectiveness of this holistic approach in supporting survivors and ensuring justice.[1]

Beyond legal reforms and service advancements, the spirit of the Beijing Declaration has ignited a dynamic movement across Uganda, one defined by the transformative power of digital technology. As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, digital platforms are amplifying the voices of women and girls, enabling them to advocate boldly, spark global conversations on gender-based violence, and access educational & health opportunities that were once out of reach for marginalized communities.

Despite significant policy reforms and vigorous advocacy, many Ugandan women continue to face daunting barriers in accessing justice, leadership roles, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Deep-seated cultural norms, persistent legal gaps, and ingrained social biases continue to create a complex web that hinders true progress. From navigating a legal system that sometimes falls short in protecting their rights, to overcoming societal expectations that limit their aspirations, Ugandan women experience challenges that demand urgent, collective action.

Ugandan NGOs like The Human Rights Centre Uganda (HRCU) have been at the forefront of promoting and defending the rights of women, with a special focus on Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs). Through comprehensive legal aid services, robust advocacy initiatives, and targeted capacity-building programs, HRCU empowered women to assert their rights and navigate the complexities of legal systems effectively. These concerted efforts have not only brought relief to those facing injustice but also strengthened the broader movement for policy reforms that safeguard women’s freedoms and dignity.

One of the most impactful initiatives led by HRCU is the Annual Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Conference. This gathering held annually over the last 7 years has united activists, academicians, entrepreneurs, health & legal experts, policymakers, and grassroots defenders from across Uganda to discuss pressing issues, ranging from access to justice and entrepreneurship to health, education, and cultural empowerment. These conferences have served as impactful advocacy platforms, empowering women to voice their concerns and engage in meaningful dialogues. They have also facilitated valuable collaborations, not only among Ugandan WHRDs but also with their counterparts from both within Uganda and across the globe.

This year’s International Women’s Day calls on all Ugandans to unite and drive change in three key areas. First, we must promote and protect the rights of women and girls through relentlessly challenging all forms of violence, discrimination, and exploitation. Second, we need to promote gender equality by dismantling systemic barriers and patriarchal structures that stifle progress, while uplifting the voices of marginalized and young women to build a truly inclusive society. Finally, we must foster empowerment by redefining power structures, guaranteeing equitable access to quality education, robust employment opportunities, leadership roles, and decision-making spaces, so that Ugandan women and girls can lead, innovate, and shape a future where everyone thrives.

In conclusion, as we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, it is vital to recognize the progress made while acknowledging the challenges that persist. According to the recent statistics from UN Women Uganda, only 24% of women in Uganda participate in the formal labor market, and 1 in 3 women experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. These figures underscore the urgent need for action. Now more than ever, stakeholders must amplify women’s voices, protect their rights, and create opportunities for every woman and girl to thrive. As Audre Lorde powerfully stated, ‘‘I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.’’ Let this remind us that the fight for women’s freedom and equality is interconnected, and it is our collective responsibility to break all chains that hold us back.

Written by : Leticia Josephine Nabacwa, Legal Officer at HRCU