Women in Uganda

The prominence of women in politics in Uganda has been buttressed by their gradual economic empowerment, the result in part of the impact of the years of turmoil and conflict predating President Yoweri Museveni’s regime. “When husbands and brothers were killed, went into hiding, joined the opposition in the bush or fled the country, they often left women no choice but to support whole families,” writes Margaret Snyder, author of several books on the Ugandan women’s movement and a founding director of Unifem.

Ugandan women now produce 80 percent of food crops and 60 percent of traditional exports such as maize, vanilla and chili. Yet according to Snyder, they own only 7 percent of the land. Still, women have achieved a status in Uganda unrivaled in much of Africa . Speciosa Kazibwe, the vice president, is female, as is the judge leading the anti-corruption committee. Additionally, the head of the investment promotion agency is female, and a quarter of parliamentary members are women also.

Return to Uganda Main Page