Ugandan businesswomen have been advised to participate in business leadership in the country and beyond if they are to contribute to the growth the economy and benefit from gender equality.
During the 3rd Annual Women conference organised by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) held at Hotel Africana on Wednesday, the URA Commissioner General Doris Akol said that if the challenges that hinder women empowerment are dealt with, women can have full participation in leadership at all levels to ensure involvement in political and public life and thus, take part in decision making.
She said that if challenges which including culture that puts a bias to women as dependent, competition, lack of enough networking, work-life balance among others can be addressed, women can ensure growth in the economy through business.
“The United Nations states that achieving gender equality requires empowerment of all women and girls. There is need to ensure full participation in leadership at all levels so that women can be involved in political and public life. To take our place in decision making especially in trade, we must be in top leadership positions,” she said.
Held under the theme: “Celebrating 25 years of constitutionalism; scores in gender equality and women empowerment,” Angella Nakafeero from Ministry of Gender and Labour and Social development, reminded the women in trade that the Constitution of Uganda empowers them which she says is an opportunity for women to excel.
She advised women to provide their children with equal socialisation status through grooming both boys and girls to bring up a generation that values girls and boys as having equal opportunities.
“Teach your daughter economic independence and encourage them not to be servants. We can do the same at family, social levels. Protect human rights as one through education, resources and affirmative action to participate in business,” Nakafeero said.
She noted that the challenges that are facing women in Uganda including patriarchy, gender based violence among others have a negative impact on the economy and undermine the human rights of women.
By Drake Nyamugabwa
