Hellen Asamo, Minister of State for Gender, Labour, and Social Development in charge of Disability Affairs, lauded the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) and UN Women for their commitment to advancing the Government of Uganda’s Women Empowerment Agenda.
Speaking at the “Ring the Bell for ALL Women and Girls” event in Kampala recently, Asamo said, “The Government of Uganda has made significant strides in empowering women through initiatives such as universal education, the Youth Livelihood Programme, and the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), all aimed at creating equal opportunities for women and girls.”
She commended the USE for fostering women’s participation in the financial markets and for initiatives like the bell-ringing ceremonies, which highlight the crucial role of inclusivity in driving Uganda’s economic transformation.
In a powerful display of support for gender inclusivity, the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE), under the leadership of CEO Paul Bwiso, hosted the “Ring the Bell for ALL Women and Girls” event in Kampala recently. The event, held in partnership with UN Women and other private sector players, took place under the theme: “Breaking Barriers, Empowering Women, Transforming the Economy.”
The USE and UN Women have consistently been at the forefront of gender-responsive initiatives, working to ensure equal participation in Uganda’s capital markets. This commitment is embodied in the bell-ringing ceremonies, which aim to rally private sector players to embrace gender equality as both a fundamental right and a business priority.
Bwiso reaffirmed USE’s commitment to gender inclusivity. “Our role in the women empowerment conversation is to drive growth and inclusion,” Bwiso stated. “We currently have about 250,000 investors, of whom 53,000 are women, representing 20%. Notably, 11,000 of these women have holdings in listed companies. A big hand clap to you ladies investing in the market!” He further emphasized the USE’s ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility by introducing technology that allows investors to trade directly via USSD and mobile applications. “This ensures convenience and inclusivity,” he added.
He also recognized the role of stockbrokers in expanding access to capital and investment opportunities in both the bond and equities markets, noting that key players in the market are driving the gender conversation forward.
At the event, several companies took a significant step forward in promoting gender equality by signing the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Among the signatories were CIC Insurance Uganda Limited, Creditinfo Uganda CRB Ltd, Movit Products Ltd, Level Africa, Soleil Power, Yalelo Uganda, Cornerstone Asset Managers Limited, Letshego Microfinance Uganda, Chipper Technologies Uganda, and the Uganda Bankers Association.
Developed by the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and UN Women, the WEPs provide a framework for businesses to champion gender equality in the workplace, marketplace, and community. These principles stress leadership commitment, equal opportunities, fair treatment, health and safety, education and training, enterprise development, and transparency. By endorsing the WEPs, these organizations have committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable business environment that empowers women economically and drives sustainable development.
Dr. Paulina Chiwangu, the UN Women Uganda Country Representative, commended the USE for its continued efforts toward gender inclusion. “For many years, UN Women has championed the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) as a guiding framework for businesses to advance gender equality,” she said. She emphasized the need for stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure that companies that commit to the WEPs follow through on their promises.
A key development from this year’s event was the establishment of the Corporate Gender Accountability Network. This network, which includes public, private, and UN actors, will serve as an accountability mechanism to ensure that the commitments made through the WEPs extend beyond the signing ceremony. The network will track progress made by signatories, utilizing a monitoring and evaluation framework, and engage stakeholders to address challenges and drive meaningful action toward gender equality.
