Kyambogo University held its 5th commemoration of International Women’s Day under the theme “Accelerating Economic Empowerment of Female Staff and Students by Strengthening Education, Training and Skills Development at Kyambogo University.” The event was officiated by Hon. Betty Amongi Ongom, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
In her keynote address, Minister Amongi commended the university for establishing a Gender Mainstreaming Unit with focused gender special-tailored course units that have produced “professional gurus in gendered research and publications,” influencing policy changes related to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The Minister highlighted several national achievements in advancing gender equality, noting that Uganda now ranks 65th globally with a score of 0.717 and 10th at the continental level. She emphasized the progress made in educational enrollment parity, with tertiary education enrollment for females increasing from 43% in 2008 to 48.2% in 2024.
“Uganda has witnessed progress in equal opportunities in public service,” Minister Amongi stated. “Currently, women in Government Ministries constitute 40.1% of total staff, 37.7% in public universities, 58.1% of staff in public hospitals, and 37% of all district local government staff.”
The Head of Kyambogo University’s Gender Mainstreaming Unit reported significant strides in boosting education and skills training for female students. During the December 2024 graduation ceremony, 6,017 females graduated compared to 5,704 males, with the best overall student being female. The university currently employs 393 females compared to 540 males, with increasing numbers of women taking up leadership positions.
Despite these achievements, both speakers acknowledged persistent challenges. The Gender Mainstreaming Unit head highlighted difficulties faced by student and staff mothers, calling for the establishment of a Child Care and Breastfeeding Facility and flexible work arrangements for staff, particularly after maternity leave.
Minister Amongi outlined several government initiatives aimed at promoting economic empowerment, including the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), the Parish Development Model (PDM), the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation (Emyooga), and the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project.
The Minister made a rallying call to academia to conduct research and offer academic guidance to influence both private and public sectors in advocating for behavioral and policy changes. She also emphasized the need to intentionally provide more women with opportunities to acquire PhDs, as this is a critical requirement for most senior management positions.
Looking forward, Minister Amongi revealed that the government, through the implementation of NDP IV and the Ministry of Gender Strategic Plan 2025/26-2030/2031, seeks to reduce the gender gap index from 0.523 to 0.5 by reducing vulnerability and gender inequality under the Human Capital Development Programme.
The event highlighted Kyambogo University’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, with the Gender Mainstreaming Unit pledging to continue working with University Top Management and partners to accelerate action towards these goals within Kyambogo and beyond.
