KAMPALA – Ms. Patricia Munabi, Forum for Women in Democracy – FOWODE Executive Director has said that women’s economic empowerment, including women’s ability to participate equally in existing markets; their access to and control over productive resources, access to decent work, control over their own time among others, is not only the right thing to do but is core to development.

Munabi was speaking during the national dialogue on women in the economy held at Hotel Africana on Wednesday under the theme “Break the bias: Make women count”.

KAMPALA – Ms. Patricia Munabi, Forum for Women in Democracy – FOWODE Executive Director has said that women’s economic empowerment, including women’s ability to participate equally in existing markets; their access to and control over productive resources, access to decent work, control over their own time among others, is not only the right thing to do but is core to development.

Munabi was speaking during the national dialogue on women in the economy held at Hotel Africana on Wednesday under the theme “Break the bias: Make women count”.

Giving her keynote speech, Ms. Margaret Kigozi challenged women to save money and buy their own land.

“Don’t wait for your grandfathers to give you land.”

Ms. Kigozi, a business lady said, “I am empowered, and this is an important area that we can focus on. The advocacy and training are key to women navigating the economic spaces.”

She said that their role as already established business people is to pull up other women and add them to their spaces and demand that women are brought on board, even in managerial positions.

She, however, appreciated the fact that today women are occupying key positions in Human Resource, Finance Management and marketing.

“We are really excited that in the Private Sectors women are taking space.”

“We, in the private sector, are working on the pay gap and even in our banks, we have dealt with the presentation of women in these spaces, in decision-making positions,” she said.

Ms. Kigozi added, “As women, there is nothing for us without us. In my capacity as an ambassador for SDG5, we need to push to achieve SDG5 before 2030. Where is equality? We need to lobby for affirmative action.”

She tasked the private sector and civil society to work together closely.

Sarah Achieng Opendi, the State Minister of Mineral Development said that the key challenges the ladies are faced with are lack of access to land revealing that only 33% of the women own land in Uganda today.

Secondly, she said it is hard for most women to access credit to do meaningful businesses and also illiteracy amongst the women when it comes to digital space.

“If we can overcome these issues we will be able to break the barriers and women will be empowered economically.”

Opendi is, however, optimistic that the Parish Development Model will be a game-changer for these women.

FOWODE on Monday, March 7 launched the Construction of a 28 billion shillings, IMARA, a Women Leadership and Skills training centre in Kasangati town council.

Munabi told the dialogue that the centre will be able to sustain the work that they do as an organization before she asked them to give a hand in the raising of funds to build it.